Does positive thinking really work?  Have you tried it and been disappointed?  Do you find your thoughts drifting to the negative even though you try to make them positive?

Positive thinking is extremely powerful.  It is essential to goal achievement.  Positive thinking begins the process of attracting the circumstances and people you need in order to get where you want to go.  Positive thinking is a crucial component of problem solving.

If you haven’t had great success with positive thinking, you are likely discouraged.  Even if you may not have realized the results you had hoped for, what’s the alternative?  Negative thinking?  Although you may be skeptical about positive thinking, no one can claim negative thinking is preferable.

Since negative thinking will certainly exacerbate any problems, you have nothing to lose by thinking positively.  Positive thinking has benefits without any negative side effects. 

Negative thoughts are displaced with positive ones.  Many people have far more negative thoughts than they realize.  Start by monitoring what you think about.  Supplant each negative thought with a positive one.  For example, replace I can’t with I can, it won’t work with I’ll find a way to pull it off, I don’t know how with I’ll find a way, and I don’t want to fail with I’ll be successful.

Changing your thoughts is a continuous process.  Even the most positive people have negative thoughts.  However, they catch themselves and immediately engage in positive replacement.  With practice, your positive thoughts will far outnumber any negative ones and the negative ones will be more readily displaced.

Although positive thinking is great, two additional components are required in order to realize its full, unlimited potential.  Your positive thoughts must be accompanied by a positive plan and positive action.  Your positive thoughts will facilitate plan formulation and motivate you to take action.

Your plan is the roadmap that delineates the steps required to attain your goal.  A goal can be something you want to accomplish, a problem that needs to be solved, or an obstacle to be overcome.

A common pitfall is to make each step in your plan too large.  It’s hard getting started on a big step.  Make sure you divide each big step into smaller, more manageable segments.  By so doing, you reduce the likelihood of becoming overwhelmed. 

If you have problems formulating a workable plan, tap into your positive thinking.  Direct your mind to discover a workable plan.  Leave you mind open to all possibilities.  Be patient.  An idea or inspiration can come at anytime, from anywhere.

A plan is dynamic.  It can be modified as needed at any time.  You can add, change, or eliminate steps.  Your positive thoughts keep your mind receptive to any alterations you’ll need to make.

Once your plan is in place, you must take action.  Without action nothing happens.  Start with the first step in your plan.  It doesn’t matter how small the step might be, getting started is what’s imperative.  Procrastination is particularly debilitating when you want to get started.  The longer you delay taking action, the longer it will take before you see results.

After the first step, take the next one.  Continue taking action until your goal is accomplished.  If you get side tracked, stumble, or suffer a setback, just get back on course.  As long as you keep moving forward, you will ultimately be successful.

Begin with positive thoughts.  Next create a positive plan.  Then take action.  Utilizing this combination strategy enables you to accomplish more than you previously thought possible.  This is exactly the same method used by all great achievers.

NOW AVAILABLE:  "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book.  Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or write him c/o this paper.  2010 Bryan Golden

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