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In his work around the world, Lou Tice employed a series of guiding principles to help individuals and organizations understand the inner workings of the human mind. Working with high performers from industry to sports, one of the things he made sure everyone understood one very specific principle before any change process can work.

It is simply this: All meaningful and lasting change starts on the inside and then works its way out.  

In other words, we think ourselves into behaving. If you don't change the picture in your head before you start to change anything else about yourself, you… >>>

Have you heard of "either/or thinking?" It's a dangerous but common mistake that many of us have been conditioned to make.

Either/or thinking, or black-and-white thinking as it's sometimes called, is a dangerous thing. It's basically just what it sounds like. Either/or thinkers don't see shades of gray. They want easy answers to difficult questions, so they see life in terms of winners and losers, good guys and bad guys, success or failure, right and wrong.

What they fail to realize is that right and wrong often depend on time, place, culture and purpose, among other things. They fail to… >>>

As parents, we want our kids to be safe, but sometimes we confuse safety with control. Most parents establish a few sensible rules to keep their children safe. Some parents, though, go too far. They control their children more from selfish motives than any desire to help them grow up safely. Of course, if you ask them, they'll invariably tell you it's for the child's own good.  

Now, a great deal of child abuse has been accompanied by the words "for your own good," and it must be stopped. It's a tragic mistake to believe that a child's will must… >>>

Do you feel that you're a victim? Now it is possible that you are, but accepting that label may be doing you more harm than good.  

Victims generally feel that something bad has happened to them and they, themselves, are in no way responsible for it. Now, authentic victims certainly do exist - let's be perfectly clear on that. The devastation caused by last week's storm, Sandy, is an example. However, in a book called, "A Nation of Victims," Charles Sykes pointed out that far too many of us have grown adept at finding someone else to blame for our… >>>

What are you afraid of, and what does it cost you? Today, I want you to read one of the best descriptions of fear I have ever heard. I don't know where I got this quote originally, but it is one of the best definitions I know, and it seems to be appropriate for the world in which we are living:

"I am Fear. I am the menace that lurks in the paths of life, never visible to the eye but sharply felt in the heart. I am the father of despair, the brother of procrastination, the enemy of progress,… >>>

Do you know what a self-fulfilling prophecy is? If you do, do you know how it works?

Most people know that a self-fulfilling prophecy is an event, which, because it is predicted and expected, is therefore more likely to happen, and even be caused to happen.

Here's a favorite example: According to an article in an older "Success Magazine," two different groups of psychologists were asked to observe the same child at play. One group was told beforehand that the child was emotionally disturbed. The other group was told that the child was a genius. When the psychologists were asked… >>>

How can the ancient tradition of Sabbath help you perform better at work and feel energized and much more creative?

The ancient idea of Sabbath makes sense in modern times, too, and not just in a religious way. How often do you set aside some time for yourself where you entirely alter your routines? That is what is supposed to happen on the Sabbath, or on a sabbatical, which comes from the same root word.  

Sabbaticals are sometimes necessary if we are to stay fresh and creative. A highly successful businessman took nine weeks off from his job. He called… >>>

Last week, we talked about compulsive behaviors and the negative costs we charge ourselves in the way of extra tension and stress. We used folks who are compulsively punctual as an example. Today, let's flip that around a bit because there are negative costs to going too far in the opposite direction.

Compulsively punctual people generally cause the extra stress and tension on themselves first, but there can also be a cost to those around them as they basically force others to adhere to their obsessive schedule. While some of us think that constantly being early is not a bad… >>>

What is the role of spirituality in living a happy, healthy, productive life? Let's look at some answers to this important question.

How much attention do you give to your spiritual side?  Now we are not necessarily talking about participation in an organized religion, although this may be something that is important to you.  Spirituality, itself, can be expressed and explored in many ways.  

Polls and studies have shown that people who are able to stay energetic and enthusiastic over the long haul tend to have a strong spiritual connection.  Now, they don't all go to some form of church.… >>>

If you really believe something to be true, why in the world would you want to change that belief? 

When we talk about the power of beliefs in our seminars, we are sometimes asked the following question: "If I really believe something is true, how can I deliberately change that belief without betraying myself?"

This is an important question, and my answer would go something like this: "Belief systems are no more fixed and unchangeable than the length of your hair or the quality of your relationship with another person."

Now, all of us have core beliefs that are so… >>>