Very Happy Phil

We often think emotionally and negatively and it stops us from taking action. I will give you an example; In my book ‘Winning Mentality’ I relate the following example. Imagine there is a plank on the ground and our desire is to walk across it because of a reward at the other side. The task is straightforward so we could achieve our desire. However, imagine the plank is high up between two buildings and suddenly the task is not so easy! This time our imagination comes into play and the fear created within our imagination is stopping us taking action to achieve our desires. Logical thinking would be helpful. Negative thinking is detrimental.

Thinking emotionally and negatively causes ourselves unnecessary stress and worry and not only make us less happy but also make us less successful. I will tell you a little story; Victoria Pendleton failed in Athens and Succeeded in Beijing due to one man. Dr Steve Peters.

“My first impression was that you had this really astute, really good woman who was completely taken over by her chimp. Let me explain: there are two aspects of your brain that work independently of each other. One is quite emotional and irrational; the other is logical, capable of making good judgments. I call the emotional part ‘the chimp’. He was controlling Vicky.

“But we have a choice here, logic or emotion, it’s up to us. Because Vicky was so ready to change and so capable of understanding what she had to do, I was very excited. ‘I can fix this’, I thought.”
- Dr Steve Peters, Psychiatrist

Sir Chris Hoy and Vicky and everyone else with a Gold medal at cycling last year thanked Dr Steve Peters for his help.

Here are a few of my favourite quotes which inspire me;

‘I wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for Steve. He taught me to care less about other people and more about myself, to be more assertive. The concepts Steve taught would help four out of five girls in everyday life. If I had known these at 14, I would have been much more happy and less full of teen angst’
- VICTORIA PENDLETON, gold medal winner cyclist

‘Before I saw him, I would think, “What am I doing here? Why am I doing this?” I would look at other people and think they were better. He gets you to think that you want to be there, you want to fight. He gets you focused on what you are going to do and that makes you enjoy it rather than worrying about why you are there. I wish I’d met him 10 years ago’
SARAH STEVENSON, Tae kwon do British Olympic Athlete

‘I had to stop getting in off-the-ball situations. What he (Steve Peters) gave me was a clear plan before every game to think with the logical part of my head, and channel my energy so I still tackle and run with the same energy that I used to put into trying to annoy someone”
- DYLAN HARTLEY, England hooker

“I reacted emotionally, there was far more chance of me losing concentration. So I had to tap into the logical part of my brain when I was in a stressful situation. Without Steve Peters I don't think I could have brought home gold in Athens and the triple-gold in Beijing this year. Now I can't wait to win in front of a home crowd in London in 2012. The best of me is yet to come.”
-Sir Chris Hoy

Chris's achievement and Steve advice is even more impressive when you read his book and discover he previously suffered from Panic Attacks before races!

Have a happy LOGICAL week!

Keep positive!
Phil McNally
Author & Happiness Expert

Remember,
“Happy people have happy thinking habits!”

– Phil McNally, Author & Happiness Expert

PS Limited copies of my first book 'Winning Mentality-7 mind techniques used by Winners' are left. Amazon sold out! I have copies for GBP£10.99. Get a special Christmas deal if you wish to buy two or more copies contact me!

PPS To read reviews of my book;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1904762115/winningmental-21

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© Phil McNally 2009