If
you have difficulty feeling good about yourself and see opportunities pass you
by, don’t fret! There is a light at the tunnel’s end, for you can think your
way into triumphing over many difficulties!
It’s not a Pollyanna idea. Much research
supports it and that’s why I stress throughout my book Finding Happiness in America that we all become what we think about. What you achieve or don’t
achieve is directly related to your personal thoughts, so if you diligently
work on changing negative thoughts into positive ones, you will eventually
become a more confident and constructive person. By thinking optimistically,
you will carve out an encouraging and promising future for yourself. Researchers
found that roughly 20,000 thoughts pass through the human mind each day, so why
not nurture yourself by focusing in on great ones?
You can make things improve in your life because
you are human and possess the unique ability for creative imagination. It’s
holed up in all of us even though it may be suppressed by passive TV viewing
and by a civilization which carries out vital functions and bestows bounties
upon us with little mental sweat required. A study of the 400 most prominent
people of the 20th century, like Thomas Edison, Helen Keller, Martin
Luther King, and Eleanor Roosevelt revealed how crucial our thoughts are in
determining our fate. Three-fourths of those dignitaries utilized creative
thinking to overcome personal tragedies, terrible frustrations or debilitating
handicaps to achieve their victories.
It’s no surprise that successful business
owners forge positive, detailed business plans. They learned that the happiness
and success in their ventures depend on the quality of their thoughts. Likewise,
you can overcome present difficulties and better cope with unseen future snags
and dilemmas as well. Start by writing down your personal thoughts on what
you’d like to achieve and the person you’d like to become, your long-range
goals and aspirations…paint a picture of your ideal life. Then, rephrase it,
not as a wish list, but as if you’re already there, describing how it feels to
have your dreams actualized. This is your first creation- existing only in your
“mind’s eye”. This will enable you to begin thinking positive thoughts and to make
them take root in your personal, daily experiences.
Next, use your creative imagination and
positive thinking to make your goals begin to materialize in the real world
(second creation). Set yourself up for success! Plan for frequent wins by
breaking your long-range goals down into shorter, easily-reachable ones. These
initial victories will become mental coup d’états against your negative thoughts
that hold you back, a kind of cognitive rebellion…against yourself!
By getting a grip on the 20,000 thoughts
that pass through your mind each and every day, you can transform them into
positive and constructive reflections, ideas and inspirations. Eventually, past
mistakes will dissolve from your “mind’s eye” and you will find yourself
creating new opportunities instead of waiting around in anticipation for them to
knock on your door…which they seldom do.
You are today where your thoughts have
brought you and you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you. Yes, we all
become what we think about!
Robert Morton, M.Ed., Ed.S. has retired from his positions as school psychologist and adjunct professor in the School of Leadership & Policy Studies at Bowling Green State University. He authors the book, "Finding Happiness in America".(Click HERE for Kindle edition).
