Focusing on positive thinking

BY MARIE LITALIEN

Gisèle Guénard has always seen the glass half-full and, last week, 20 local women had the opportunity to tap into her years of experience and knowledge with positive thinking.

The inaugural seminar, titled Women! Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life! was held from 6 to 9 pm, at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites on Barry Downe Road.

The positive-thinking session was based on Guénard's two-step strategy from her book, Attract it: Beyond Positive Thinking. The purpose of the seminar was to teach women how to transform their lives and attract what they want, said Guénard, who is CEO of VisionarEase, a positive change leadership and consulting company.

The sold-out seminar provided a classroom setting for teaching positive change thought, said Guénard.

"The women get to participate, they get to relax as well, and no one is forced into any uncomfortable activities or forced to reveal anything embarrassing or anything like that," she said.

"We all walk together through the concepts that I write about," she continued.

Through learning this positivity strategy, the women will be able to apply it right away, said Guénard.

"People go home and they can immediately start thinking a little bit different, speaking a little bit different and actually it changes their life right away."

People respond well to her methods because they are very simple and applicable, she continued. Guénard has raised two daughters in this positive-thinking environment.

Her own success, both personally and professionally, is also thanks to seeing the brighter side, she said. Guénard learned to keep a positive attitude from her mother, who was a great inspiration to her.

"There's always something we can do and the philosophy, the way it was verbalized by my mom, was that there's always something to look forward to, even in the darkest of times," said Guénard.

When a person is going through hard times, whether it be short- or long-term, keeping positivity in the back of your mind at all times, will pull you out more quickly, she said.

"Nothing lasts forever, said Guénard. "Even the bad stuff."

The Women! Change Your Thoughts - Change Your Life! seminar is the only one Guénard hosts that is specifically designed for females. Sometimes, it is hard for women to open up in front of men.

"I really encourage women to follow their dreams, whether it has something to do with leadership, learning how to make a quilt, or whatever it is," said Guénard.

On May 1, she will hold another seminar at the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites. This session, Take this Job and Love it, is open to men and women with a limit of 20 registrations.

The job seminar will be based on the same concepts of positive thinking described in her book, but will focus on helping attendees make the most of their current jobs. Guénard said she hopes the session will help people go to work the next day and enjoy it.

She offers these types of personal development seminars in the north because they are often quite expensive in cities such as Toronto, said Guénard.

It gives people the opportunity to attend these types of activities closer to home and for less money.

For more information on VisionarEase or to register for a seminar, visit visionarease.com.