Lou Tice

I think everyone would agree that a hopeful attitude is a good thing. But what exactly is hope? Can it be learned? Centuries of folk wisdom and religious teaching have taught the benefits of a hopeful attitude. These days, researchers believe that hope may be associated with good health and greater success, both personally and professionally.

But what exactly is hope? Well, according to Dr. Rick Snyder while at the University of Kansas, hope is a practical, goal-oriented attitude - a stance people assume in the face of difficulty. It combines a goal-directed determination with the ability to generate the… >>>

How effective are you at getting your message across when you speak?  If you think you could be better, I have a few pointers that may help.

I've spent a large part of my life talking about human behavior to people all over the world.  Most of the public speaking I do is to large groups, but I do quite a bit of one-on-one coaching, too.  I have learned that the actual words I say are only part of the picture when it comes to getting people to remember what I say.

This is true for you, too - whether… >>>

What is the best way to teach children? There are many theories about the most effective way to teach children. Some say repetition is important, while others say hands-on experiences are better. Some say kids learn best in a highly structure environment, while others think the freedom to experiment works best.

Here is what I think. The best way to teach children - is by loving example. This means that if you want your children to enjoy reading, cuddle them while you read to them, from a very early age. If you want them to be respectful, give them your… >>>

Is it possible to have high self-esteem and humility at the same time? For over 40 years, I have been teaching people from all walks of life to raise their self-esteem and their self-efficacy.  Every now and then, someone will ask me, rather nervously, if raising their self-esteem is going to make them into conceited, egotistical or selfish people.

Now, it is true that people with high self-esteem value their worth as human beings and as individuals. They enjoy their own company, and have confidence in their ability to overcome obstacles and to achieve the goals they have set for… >>>

Today, let's talk about how to handle those inevitable setbacks that occur, from time to time, in your quest to be a better human being.

If you are a regular receiver of the Winner's Circle, you know I talk quite a bit about affirmations because they are a wonderful way to help people change for the better.  (Now, affirmations are just emotionally charged, present-tense statements describing a desired end-result.)  For example, an affirmation you could make if you want to be a more loving person is, "I really enjoy treating all people with respect and courtesy in every possible circumstance."… >>>

How much control do you believe you have over what happens to you in life?  Today, let's discuss how feelings about who is in control can affect end results.

Some people believe they have very little control over what happens to them. When good things occur, they think it is mostly a matter of luck or circumstance. They don't set goals or plan very far ahead, because they believe that how things turn out is beyond their control. Their stress and tension levels are generally very high, and they often feel overwhelmed, helpless and hopeless. Strangely enough, when unpleasant things… >>>

Many people think that courage is an unusual act of bravery, but it is far more than that. Do you believe that courage is something that certain special people display in times of great danger?

Of course, I agree. But, I also think that courage needs to be an everyday fact of life, if we are going to use more of our potential and become all that we can be. In fact, I believe that courage precedes all positive change. Courage is the magic key that opens the door to the full experience of life.

Of course, no courage is… >>>

Can the use of visualization techniques really help you achieve your goals in life? Perhaps you know someone who uses mental rehearsal, or visualization, to help them develop the behavior they'd like to have?

I've used visualization for over 40 years, and it is an important part of what I teach others, as well. And by the way, there is nothing at all mysterious about how visualization works. You see, human beings think in the form of words, which trigger pictures and emotions - and our subconscious cannot tell the difference between something we imagine vividly and the real thing.… >>>

Seminar participants often ask me what they can do to build their own self-esteem. It seems easier to build another person's self-esteem than affect their own! Today, I'd like to give you some pointers.

The most commonly accepted definition of self-esteem is our own estimation of our value or worth as human beings - and there is probably nothing more important when it comes to living a healthy, happy, productive life. But if you are aware that your self-esteem isn't what it could be, as a result of poor parenting or other early-life difficulties, what can you do about it?… >>>

Labels are important, as they are the terms we use to put things into categories in order to help us understand them. Often, though, instead of helping us understand, labels cause us to make a mental checkmark in an imaginary box - and then stop thinking!

How many kids in the world have been called "slow learners" or even "learning disabled" when their only problem was teachers who lacked patience, or parents who didn't recognize genius when they saw it? How many people hear the words, "You have a fatal illness," and simply resign themselves to die?

How many Protestants… >>>