Emotions and thoughts are not just about the mind. For the past twenty years or so, scientists have developed a vast body of work that proves that our emotions and thoughts influence our physical bodies and health. It is common knowledge that stress, negative emotions, and bad thought patterns lead to many physical ailments. Since companies lose many billions of dollars due to employees who are ill, the physical effects of mental states are a key concern for managers and employers. Quite simply, if negative emotions or thoughts lead to ill health it can affect the way that you feel and the way that you deal with the goals that you have set for yourself.

Studies have repeatedly shown that negative thoughts and negative emotional states (such as anger or resentment) lead to very real physical effects that may well result in serious long-term illnesses. Some conditions, such as ulcers and some cardiac problems are in fact directly linked to poor emotional states. Too much stress, worry, and anxiety can put a strain on the entire system. In fact, research has shown that stress, anxiety, nervousness, anger, and brooding can result in a number of very real physical problems, including insomnia, loss of appetite and subsequent loss of weight, shakiness, dry mouth syndrome, heart palpations, heart pains, chest pains, headaches, sore muscles, cramps, stomach upset, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and a host of other ills. Obviously, what goes through your mind is crucial to how you manage the goals in your life.

It is not just your emotions and moods, but also your thoughts that can affect your goals. Whether your thoughts are positive or negative in fact influences how your lead your life. Positive thoughts have been linked very strongly to achieving goals. People with a positive attitude strive more often to achieve their goals. Positive thoughts, especially thoughts such as "I can do this", are more likely to relax you and give you the personal incentive that you need to be successful and reach your gaols. Affirmations have long been considered a very effective way of generating a positive attitude. The idea is to repeat, in a very positive tone of voice and with a high degree of conviction and positive emotion, statements such as "I am working towards my goals every day". The idea is to use positive statements that are in the present.

Affirmations work even better when visualization is used. If you picture yourself attaining your affirmation, as well as just saying them, you even further convince your mind of the truth of the statement, and so you produce positive thought and action in your life and in the process of setting your goals.