People who have worked closely with me over the years often ask  “How do you keep such a positive attitude all the time?” I made a decision years ago how to take my journey in life and it is with positive thinking. Fortunately, I spent my 20s and 30s reading everything written by Zig Ziglar, Jim Roan, Wayne Dyer, Earl Nightingale and Norman Vincent Peale. When you learn their secret to success is in how they think about the world, you understand the importance of positive thinking. We have a choice in how we see life every day and these are thoughts to remind you. Here are some of my favorite phrases from Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993).

Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Change your thoughts and you change your world. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Watch your manner of speech if you wish to develop a peaceful state of mind. Start each day by affirming peaceful, contented and happy attitudes and your days will tend to be pleasant and successful. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret to success.
~Norman Vincent Peale

If you want things to be different, perhaps the answer is to be different yourself. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

The first step is to fill your life with positive faith that will help you through anything. The second step is to start where you are. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

People who are really efficient seem to do things easily, with a minimum of effort. In doing so, they release maximum power. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Live your life and forget your age. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Yesterday ended last night. Every day is a new beginning. Learn the skill of forgetting and move on. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

A peaceful mind generates power. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination, those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. They are full of eagerness, zest and productivity. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Affirm it, visualize it, believe it, and it will actualize itself. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

It is always too early to quit. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

There is nothing in life so difficult that cannot be overcome. Faith can move mountains. It can change people. It can change the world. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Give everyone a smile. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Go at life with abandon; give it all you have got. And life will give you all it has to offer. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

When you expect the best you release a magnetic force in your mind which by a law of attraction tends to bring the best to you. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Plan your work- work your plan. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

If you want to get somewhere you have to know where you want to go and how to get there. Then never, never, never give up. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

If you put off everything until you are sure of it, you will never get anything done. ~ Norman Vincent Peale

 Share your favorite inspirations in comments!