99ChoicesChoicesWinners Behave Winners Behave DailyDaily

The secret of winning in life lies in seeing life differently - in its different shades andoutcomes. Life becomes a path that leads to achievements. Winners do not value life asmuch as what they can do with it. For them life is not a tedious journey from the womb tothe tomb. It is a journey about crossing milestones and looking forward to new ones.

The best place to start is to change yourself. If whatever you do doesn't work, you must be flexible - you must change your action plan if the current one does not produce the requiredresults. If you want other people to change, you must be prepared to make the first step yourself. If you cannot change your environment, you should change your attitude.

1. The winners maintain a positive attitude.Only you can change your life, no one can do it for you. Happiness always comes from within, and it’s found in the present moment by making peace with the past and looking forward to the future. Each morning when you open your eyes, think only three things first: Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Then set out to make the best use of the gift of this day that you can.

2. The winners ignore the naysayers.Unless someone lived through all of your ups and downs alongside you, they have no right to judgeyou. Unless they can look into the core of your heart and see the degree of your passion, then theyhave no business telling you who you are or what you can or can’t achieve. Everyone has a story. Everyone has unique gifts. Unless that someone is YOU, their opinion of you means nothing in the long run.

3. The winners work with, and spend time with, the right people.A day spent with the right people is always a day spent well. Sometimes the mostordinary ideas and projects can be made extraordinary, simply by discussing themand doing them with the right people.

4. The winners take actionMany great things can be done in a day if you don’t always make that day tomorrow. Take positive action and plant the right seeds in your life right now. Nature herself does not distinguish betweenwhat seeds she receives. She grows whatever seeds are planted; this is the way life works. Bemindful of the seeds you plant today, as they will become the crop you harvest in the future.

5. They embrace challenges and endure the pain.Maybe there’s something you’re afraid to say, or someone you’re afraid to love, or somewhereyou’re afraid to go. Maybe it’s going to hurt. Maybe it’s going to hurt because it matters, and because it expands your horizons. Remember, pain isn’t always a bad thing; sometimes it’sjust another step toward personal growth.

6. The winners appreciate what they have.Sometimes people throw away something good for something better, only to find out laterthat good was actually good enough and better never even came close. Stop long enoughto appreciate things. When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates invalue. When you truly appreciate your life, you’ll find that you have more of it to live.

7. They don’t give up on the things they believe in.If J.K. Rowling stopped after being turned down by multiple publishers for years, therewould be no Harry Potter. If Walt Disney quit too soon after his theme park concept wastrashed by 300+ investors, there would be no Disney. One thing for sure: If you give up onyour dreams too soon, you will miss out on seeing them become a reality.

8. The winners concentrate on the present.Don’t let your history interfere with your destiny. It doesn’t matter what you did or where youwere; it matters where you are and what you’re doing now. Never give up on yourself, andnever abandon your values and dreams. As long as you feel pain, you’re still alive. As longas you make mistakes, you’re still human. And as long as you keep trying, there’s still hope.

9. They accept 100% responsibility for their current situation. The next five years can be the best five years of your life, or just another five years. The decision is yours. The best part of your life will start on the day you decide your life is your own – no one to lean on, rely on, or blame. It takes courage and strength, but you need to say it: “The gift of life ismine, it is an amazing journey, and I alone am responsible for the quality of it.”

Don’t wake up at seventy-five years of age, sighing over whatyou should have tried. Just do it, and be willing to fail and learnalong the way. At least you will know you gave it your best shot.

At the end of the day, whether you choose to go with it, flow with it, resist it, change it, or hide from it, life goes on. If what you did today didn’t turn out as you hoped, tomorrow is a new opportunity to do it differently, or to do nothing at all. What’s important is to realizethat you have a choice.

Thank You Very MuchSompong Yusoontorn