• Review your overall attitude by examining your thoughts. Do you express your limitations, fears, inhibitions and self-defeating thoughts often and find yourself affirming the worst that can happen? Notice when bad things happen and what you say during the course of the scenario. For instance, if you get into a car accident, is the first thing you say, “It’s only a car and I can get it fixed. As long as everyone is OK” or do you say, “Why does this always happen to me?  That other driver was such an idiot.  This is something else I have to deal with.”

Question or challenge this thought process to understand that your negative style of thinking was taught to you at an early age and that you can unlearn it.  Your thoughts are reflecting your belief system, which is probably holding you back and keeping you from fulfilling your dreams.

• Review how flexible you are in terms of being open and receptive to new ideas. Think of this as stepping out of your comfort zone. You are probably so used to doing things and thinking things a certain way that it is hard to act differently.  But I suggest you try being, acting, thinking and even speaking differently and see how that feels.

Everyone wants a quick fix to their problems, but there is really no such thing.  However, if you are open and receptive to new ideas and ways of thinking, maybe the new idea will be just what you need to turn your life around.

• Review your coping skills.These are the skills you use to help you deal with stress.  How effective are they? If you drown out your sorrows with a gallon of ice cream, instead of just a scoop, then your skills are not working for you.  After all, putting on thirty pounds is self-defeating and unproductive, as you probably already know.

Change your perspective and your world will instantly change. With a new, fresh vision for the future, you may be completely overwhelmed by your good fortune, but enjoy it, because you have mastered the secret to a successful life.