It takes courage to examine what we are doing and where we are going. But if we honestly stop and think about it and then pull out of those non-productive activities and rectify those poor decisions we have made in the past, we will never look back.

While we are on the topic of successful thinking, I would be remiss if I didn't mention Carlson's "back burner thinking." Richard Carlson, Ph.D., stress psychologist and writer of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff … and It's All Small Stuff, describes my favorite way of solving problems and finding solutions. When we have a project, problem and/or challenge, we should state it to ourselves with all of the different approaches (seasonings) and then put it on the "back burner."

Work and focus on completely different tasks and activities. Meanwhile, that problem on the "back burner" is simmering, with all of the different parts cooking together to come to a solution and/or answer. Suddenly, the solution is ready and we get the perfect answer or answers to our problem. This has always worked for me. I think one important rule is believing in the system. Because I know and expect "back burner thinking" to work, it does.

Along with finding your solutions, I also urge you to think about the following and ask yourself the following questions:

• What results are expected of me, and do I have a reputation for getting results?
• What is my direction? Do I have long-term goals?
• What are my patterns? What do I do right, and what could I do differently in the future?
• Do I continually work on improving my area of expertise, my knowledge, my wisdom and my experience?
• How do I handle my time? Do I waste this valuable resource or manage it with excellence?
• Am I committed, patient, disciplined and willing to take responsibility for my future?

To get onto a successful path, stop now:

• Hurtful and draining relationships that are not working and never will.
• Business products and services that are not producing income and joy.
• Investments of time, money and emotion that are producing stress, not rewards.

It is time for reflection and for some successful thinking. We live in a world filled with opportunities. We just need to think about how we can take advantage of them.