CHEW ON THESE NUGGETS AND KEEP THE 'ALLIGATORS' AT BAY!

I have been tapping into all of my "creative juices" lately-resolving challenges, overcoming obstacles, generating business–all these requiring from me to not only be active at working hard, but also active at working smart. How about you? Ever wonder what working smart is all about?

I believe that working smart is using our brains more than our brawn. So often we just jump in with both feet before thinking things through, only to later find ourselves knee deep in alligators. Ouch! Trust me, I have been bitten more than once in my day. I have had to learn from the school of hard "bites."

This is my checklist for keeping the alligators at bay:

• If we are going to think, we should think clear thoughts. Clear thoughts produce clear results.

• Positive thinking creates more energy, more initiative and more happiness, and less stress in our daily living.

• Train your mind to think in terms of 'possible' and 'can be done.' This will change your life.

• When you have control over your thoughts, you have control over your life. Our life is what our thoughts make it.

• When there are difficulties and you feel down, this is the time to visualize, think and expect the best. Challenges, obstacles and difficulties are where our character is born and raised. Do not let circumstances influence your thoughts and moods. By rising over them mentally, you will eventually rise over them in the natural sense.

• Fill your mind with light, happiness, hope, feelings of security and strength, and soon your life will reflect these qualities to others. After all, success begets success.

As you chew on these nuggets this week, keep in mind that our attitude really does affect everything we do, or attempt to do, and what you think about has everything to do with what kind of attitude you have.

As Marcus Aurelius, a Roman soldier, once said, "Our life is what our thoughts make it." Here's to thinking the best thoughts to make our lives the best they can be!