For those of you who have taken computer classes, you'll recognize the phrase above.
The premise in computers is simple, if you put garbage into the computer, no matter how good the program is, you'll still get garbage out the other side.
The same is true of our minds.
If we have bad attitudes and thoughts in our heads, no matter how smart, creative, talented, knowledgeable, etc.
that we are, we create bad outcomes in the world.
The Proof Is In The Pudding The first step in solving any problem is to acknowledge that it is a problem.
The challenge is that when you are stuck in a negative loop, it's sometimes difficult to see the loop in your own head.
It's much easier to notice the outside world though.
You have a greater perspective on the outside world than you do on your own thoughts because you have some distance from it.
So, here's the quick-check rule: if it seems like the world is coming down around your ears, you may want to take a look at your inner thoughts.
Identifying the Problem Your inner thoughts are insidious things.
You are so used to them that sometimes you don't even notice when you're thinking something that may not be the best thing for you.
If you are wondering whether the thought you are having is healthy for you or not, then consider this.
If this were a permanent state of being for you (whatever the thought describes), would you be a happy person? If not, then this is a good time to change the thought.
Victim Mentality One particularly challenging thought-form to give up is righteous anger.
You may see yourself as the victim of some betrayal or wrong-doing.
This victim-hood gives you something to point at to say that you were right and the other person or situation was wrong.
And being right is very attractive.
However, one of the problems with being right is that it is often in the way of being happy.
Being Right vs.
Being Happy When you are attached to being right, then you often live in fear of being wrong - which keeps you from being able to relax and just be happy.
Then there is the control factor that comes with the need to be right.
If you have to be right, then you have to be in control as well - otherwise things might turn out in a way that would somehow make you wrong.
There's satisfaction in being right, but it can be exhausting, overwhelming, and a thankless job since other people rarely like someone who is always right.
There's peace in being happy, but you have to accept that you won't always be in control.
It's your choice.
Forgiveness Another common form of negative thought pattern that can really wreak havoc on your life is resentment and anger over past hurts.
Holding onto resentment is like poisoning yourself every day for what someone else has done.
It hurts no one but you - plus it continues to define you as the victim, pulling more of that energy into your life to repeat the pattern for you.
The challenge is in letting go of the anger - which means forgiving the other person.
We forgive others, not for them, but for ourselves.
We cannot move forward in our lives until we have let go of the past.
I heard something recently that really clarified forgiveness for me.
It said: "Forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better yesterday.
" When you think about it, that's really what we're angry about.
Not having a better yesterday.
But you wouldn't be the person you are today if your yesterdays had been any different.
Let it go.
It's only holding you back.
What We Focus On Expands For those of you who have seen "The Secret", this will be no surprise.
Whatever you choose, you will create.
If you focus on how the world seems out to get you and nothing ever goes right, then that is what you will find.
In fact, you will draw it to you as the people who also believe this will be attracted to you (like attracts like after all).
If, on the other hand, you believe that you live a charmed life, that everything just seems to work out for you no matter what and that each perceived setback is actually making room for something amazing, then this is what you will find.
The universe is nothing if not accommodating.
So choose carefully what you want to focus upon.
Focus on the Positive, Starve the Negative The one big challenge that many people run into is when something in their life is not as they would choose, then they tend to focus on that one item that isn't working.
This is the exact opposite of what you should be doing.
The important thing when making a change is to focus on what you want to bring into being, not focus on what you don't want to have or be.
For instance, if you're trying to lose weight, then when faced with the offer of another helping of food or chocolate cake for dessert, say to yourself "oh no, my stomach is so small, I couldn't possibly fit that in too!" Instead of "I'm not going to have that, it'll go straight to my hips and I'm fat enough already!" See the difference? In the first instance, you're talking about what you want to bring into being; in the second, you're reinforcing what you don't want.
Grow Yourself To Grow Your Business "Yeah, yeah, this is all well and fine, but what's it got to do with real estate?" you might ask.
I've always said that real estate was the best personal development class I ever took.
Why? Because I was forced to learn and to grow as a person to be successful.
I started off as the tactless wonder and six years later had a client describe me as the most diplomatic person she'd ever met.
That was a huge turnaround and I never even intended to learn tact much less diplomacy! The Defining Year Most agents never get much past the number of houses they sold in their second year in the business.
Why? Because this is where their bar is set, this is the norm for them.
They don't know how to focus on anything different.
And if they do try something different that accelerates their sales, then their comfort zone kicks in and they find a reason to slow down, or they stop working at the end of the year thinking that they "deserve it" for working so hard.
The result? They end up with the same production level for the year even though they were on track to do more.
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life In order to make any lasting change in your life, you have to start from the inside.
If your thoughts are negative, your reality will be negative.
If you believe that you are a 15 house a year producer, then you will never be more than that.
If you believe that you don't need more than $50,000/year, then that's all you'll ever make.
Your underlying assumptions and beliefs are what create your reality.
If you don't like what you see around you, then change your thoughts and what your world magically shift to a better reality.