Yesterday I was pulling papers together for the recycle bin. I was going through a pile of old magazines and took a couple minutes out to read an article about Wayne Dyer in a year-old issue of Success Magazine. There was a quote by Dr. Dyer at the top of both pages of the article. These quotes really grabbed me so I feel compelled to share…
“You can make your life whatever you wish if you learn to make your thoughts work for you.” I know from working with hundreds and hundreds of clients over the last dozen years (and from observing myself!) that our thoughts ultimately determine the results we get.
Your Thoughts Determine Your Actions
and Your Actions Determine Your Results
In other words, we become what we think. If you’re always thinking “I can’t,” you will be right. Dr. Dyer says most people aren’t good at attracting what they want into their lives because their thoughts are always focused on what’s wrong, what’s missing, and the problem.
Change your thoughts to achieve your goals.
I agree with him. Every day I talk with individuals who – unknowingly – have trained their minds to focus on the negative. In my work with individuals and in my coaching groups, I use the world-renowned Best Year Yet system. An integral part of this system is acknowledgement and so I begin every session with the question “What have you accomplished?” It sometimes seems as though that is the most difficult question in the world to answer. The majority of people want to start with the negative, or they’ll state something positive and immediately follow it with a “but…” It’s literally as though they have trained themselves only to think of the negative. I think for some, focusing on the negative has become a habit.
The good news is we have the ability to change our thinking. It may not happen overnight, but little by little, you can do it. The first step is to become aware of your thoughts. When you think about yourself, do you spend more time pondering the difficulties in your life, or do you spend more time envisioning the accomplishment of your goals? Become a brilliant observer of yourself. Here’s an exercise you can try: become aware of the words that come out of your mouth following the 2 words “I am.” Do you hear words such as afraid, tired, a failure, overwhelmed? If so, make a conscious effort to change those thoughts and words. Instead, use words like brilliant, happy, filled with energy.
Another practice you can utilize to help change your thinking is to answer the question “What have I accomplished?” at the end of every day. Think about all the good things you did that day, any successes you had – no matter how small (or big!), anything you feel good about or are proud of. If the word “but” comes into your mind, simply cancel it.
Dr. Dyer says “To change the way you think about your life and create success for yourself, you need to put your attention on what you intend – what you intend to create – what you intend to manifest.”
Here’s my challenge to you: starting right now, simply become aware of your negative thoughts. Catch them and let them go. Awareness brings its own rewards.
Change your thoughts. Change your life.
