For most people 2010 has not left them feeling great or with a positive outlook. But whilst others are thinking merely of surviving it is possible to make the most of any situation, to capitalise on past success, and learn from past mistakes. With the right mindset and strategies, 2011 could be your best year ever.

The right mindset - raise your inner threshold
A recession brings out peoples true nature highlighting both weakness and strengths. Everyone has an inner threshold which determines how much stress that they can managed. When circumstances push you above this threshold you will feel stressed. It can happen suddenly with only small things triggering you over your threshold and into meltdown.

The more going on in our lives the more stressed we are likely to feel. When the responsibilities and workload associated with all of our roles is added up, the result equals how much stress we are experiencing. Provided the total of this stress is less than our inner threshold, we will be okay. We'll feel in control and will be able to keep on top of things. However when the sum total of stressful events tips you will experience overwhelm.

Signs that you are over your threshold:

• Problems concentrating
• Lack of focus and poor sleep
• Not getting things done
• Being clumsy and accident prone
• studies show that doing the opposite and going against the flow leads to long term success
  Inability to relax or switch off
• Minor illness
• Irritability, aggression, angry outbursts for only small things

• Confused unfocussed thinking
• Negative emotions
• Inner conflict and limiting beliefs
• Poor physical condition

All of these things will clutter up your mind and thinking space. The more mental clutter, the less capacity for creative thinking, problem solving and inspired decision making. Eventually you become unable to focus on important information or current events.

Step 1: What did you achieve?
Make a list of all the things that you achieved in the last year. No matter how big or small the achievements are, if you are proud or pleased with them then put them on the list.

Step 2: What did you NOT achieve?
Make another list of all the things you failed to achieve in the last year. What goals or milestones did you set yourself that did not happen? This step won't be quite so pleasant but it important for step 3.

Step 3: Your personal rules for success.
Look at each of the lists and identify the difference that makes the difference. What did you do or not do that caused you to achieve what you did? What did you do or not do, that caused you to fail? You are looking for the difference that makes the difference and these will form your personal rules for success.

Step 4: Turn your thinking on its head.
If you look around, most people in business don't experience the kind of success they would like. But if you look at most people, what they seem to do is to look around at other struggling businesses and do exactly the same! Studies show that doing the opposite and going against the flow leads to long term success.

Go against the traffic, and you will have three lanes to yourself. Just like traffic in rush hour it is always easier to be going the opposite direction to the crowd. Business is just like that, but it takes planning, investment and courage to go against conventional thinking.

For more information please visit www.psycademy.co.uk [1]