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From Your Tango

I wrote my doctoral dissertation on self-forgiveness, and my research clearly demonstrated the health benefits associated with expressing gratitude.

One of my research participants described in detail all the physical pain, suffering and loss of sleep that he experienced when he failed to express gratitude. Once he was able to forgive himself, his health returned completely.

Read more at YourTango.com.

by R. Asmerom

Success; it’s all in the mind, isn’t it? “ Engaging in limiting thoughts limits your ability to succeed,” says life coach and Inc. columnist Marla Tabaka. Thanks to the popularization of psychology findings and Oprah in the last 10 years, we’ve come to better accept just how one’s thoughts can drastically shape experiences and perception of reality.

Negative thoughts can lead to stress-related illnesses and just a negative life experience. In her recent post for Inc., Tabaka identifies ways to improve one’s outlook, and therefore, improve one’s experience. The post was tailored to business owners and business professionals, who are the main readers of Inc., but the suggestions can be applied to everyone. A few of these suggestions include:

-Changing your environment. This means not being stuck in the office all day. Engage in changing your sceneary and taking a walk, which would help you appreciate all the nature and lanscrapes that exist outside of your cubicle. -

-Engage with positive people – it’s easy to understand how the company you keep affects your life since the ideas and views that emerge from your network can be a source of inspiration…or have the opposite effect. With that said try to seek out people who have an uplifting attitude about work and money. Tabaka takes it a step further and suggests that you “observe their language, including their body language.  Mimic the tone and body language and notice how much better it feels to you.”

-Appreciate your current wealth. Essentially, count your blessings. Focusing on what you have rather than focusing on what you don’t have is sure to lift your mood and help you “attract” more of the good stuff. Sound familiar? It’s the universal law of attraction.

So many times, especially each New Year, we seek to change or makeover our physical attributes. A new haircut, change of attire, or plans to lose that extra 10 pounds are usually high on our list of priorities. There is nothing wrong with change, but with each physical makeover should come  an internal makeover as well. Just as our looks need to be rejuvenated, so do our souls.

Yes, surprisingly even with a bold new haircut and an even fiercer new wardrobe to compliment, without having our souls intact, it all seems pointless after a while. As cliché as it may sound, you’ve really got to focus on the inside first. The rest are just additives.

So as the New Year approaches and you seek to unveil a New You, give your soul a makeover in addition to the things people can see. A beautiful soul far surpasses even the hottest pair of pumps.

Try these eight tips to assist you in the best makeover you can give yourself in 2011. Your soul will thank you.

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