What's On Your Mind?

I want to talk a moment about what really drives our levels of success and failure. It is easily summed up by a passage of scripture from the Old Testament:

"For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he"

~ Proverbs 23:7

How we think, how we see ourselves, contributes immensely to who we are and the circumstances we are in. Our thinking creates our reality. If we are happy, it is because we think happy thoughts. If we are in love, it is because we think loving thoughts. If we are wealthy, it is because we think wealthy thoughts. And the opposite is true as well. If we are miserable, it is because we think miserable thoughts. If we are lonely, it is because we think lonely thoughts. If we are afraid, it is because we think fearful thoughts.

We have more than 60,000 thoughts go through our mind every single day. The majority of these thoughts (I have heard more than 90%) are the same thoughts we had the day before and the day before that. We have a pattern of habitual thinking or what I think of as "thinking ruts" that governs our daily lives. The sad thing is that we did not consciously create most of these habits. Who would be crazy enough to consciously establish the habitual thoughts of "I am ugly," "I am worthless," "I am a loser," or "I am unwanted?" And yet people do think that way about themselves. And because they think that way, they ACT that way as well.

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Your thoughts may not be quite so extremely negative, but I am willing to bet that you have some thoughts that are doing their share of damage. Maybe they are thoughts like "I can never get a break" or "Losing weight is hard" or "I can't afford that." And all this time you are depressed, struggling with your weight loss and broke.

"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right."

~ Henry Ford

Your success in any area of your life is dependant on your thinking that IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU, that YOU CAN AND WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN, and that EVERYTHING IS GOING YOUR WAY!

You must first create success inwardly in your thoughts, beliefs and feelings before you can experience it outwardly. So take time today to consider your goals and resolutions for 2008 and what you would be like after you have accomplished them. Notice your current, predominant thought patterns about yourself and the likelihood or chances of your succeeding. Are your thoughts congruent with your image of you having succeeded in your goals? If not, CHANGE THEM!


I know that I didn't give you any tips on effective ways to change your thoughts. If that is something that would interest you, feel free to leave a comment about it as I am considering doing a 7-day series on the matter later this month if enough people are interested. Feel free to comment on ways that changing your thoughts have benefited you in your life as well.