I read this fabulous book into the night last night. IT's a pity the copy I read isn't mine, I want to mark it all up and I don't want to give it back (but I will, JoDean!!)
Every one of us has heard of the power we can harness with proper visualization and positive thinking, but this book really spells out how to realize your goals by such methods.
The author put this in a nice story format (although the woman's part of it was a bit choppy) so it was easier to digest, as opposed to a bunch of principles set chapter by chapter. Think sort of "As a Man Thinketh" but in a more modern and user-friendly manner.
What I learned:
Things that hold us back from the "good" things in life:
1) Doubt
2) Fear
3) Random thinking: (as opposed to serious, consistent thought about what we REALLY want out of life)
4) Thinking that wanting more than what I have is coveting or showing ingratitude
5) Thinking that ideas like this are stupid, and that my thoughts don't make a difference in making my dreams come true.
6) Idea of scarcity (there isn't enough to go around, be content with what you've got).
Things that make the good times roll:
1) Belief: good things can happen (we don't have to be content with our present circumstances if they aren't as good as they could be)
2) Trust: that God wants to give us good things and wants us to be happy (He's often only waiting for us to ask--this is a true principle I have learned from my study on prayer.)
3) Faith: that we can have what we want, if it's worthy (maybe my desire to be skinny is more motivated by vanity, where my desire for more extra cash may be more altruistic in manner. Not that there's anything wrong with wanting to be thin & fit, see #5.)
4) KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT WE REALLY WANT--so much so that we can SEE, FEEL, HEAR, and even TASTE it in our thoughts.
5) Thought: consistent, deep, positive & specific thought about our worthy goals
6) Positive words: i.e. one great example: "I am so grateful I'm slender and fit and have lots of energy" rather than negative, i.e. "I wish I could lose weight so I could feel cute and keep up with my kids." (Wish: doesn't mean it's real; lose: means subconsciously wanting to keep or find; weight: heaviness; feel: not always real; cute: non-specific term; keep up: in competition with them; and so on)
7) Gratitude: Always express gratitude for things you have and for things you want (as though you already have them).
8) WRITING! Put goals into writing as if they have already occured. Write, in SPECIFIC, POSITIVE language your goals in a manner as if you are already enjoying them.
9) Sacrifice: sometimes we have to give up something to get there (training, investment etc. not scheming or gambling).
This weekend I've made it my goal to write a "journal" entry as if Ross and I have just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary--15 December 2035. I will have turned 60 that year. Our oldest will be 35 and our youngest 26. I will write about our life as if it has already happened. What our house and land looked like, how our children have progressed, the great things we've been able to do, philanthropy, service, and much, much more. I will express gratitude for it all and I will make sure it is very specific and written in positive language. Then, I will spend a portion of each day thinking about part of it (because it would take too long to do it all). And I will work toward it and I will not DOUBT and I will not FEAR, and I will have FAITH that these worthy goals can happen. (No, I'm not making a life-itinerary, just writing happy memories for posterity!)
Talk to me in 25 years. :)
While it kind of reminds me of SNL's "Daily Affirmations with Mr. Smiley" (or whoever he was) I'm going to do it anyway!