| There's a country song called "What Was I | | | | rubber band on their wrist and when those |
| Thinking?" It's a cute story about a young man | | | | thoughts start chattering away in the brain, they |
| who takes a beautiful girl out for a date. Normal, | | | | simply pop the rubber band. |
| right? Except for the fact that the girl's father is a | | | | Step 4: Immediate say something positive to |
| bit crazy. And despite the father's gun-toting | | | | yourself. Once you have found some trick or |
| demeanor, the boy decides to take the girl out | | | | method to stop the negative thoughts, then |
| again. And so the question "What was I thinking?" | | | | immediately say something positive. For example, |
| Probably at some point in our lives, most of us | | | | if the thought of "I'll never be able to afford a |
| have done something and later asked "What was | | | | vacation" appears, say "Money is flowing to me |
| I thinking!?" But have you ever thought about this | | | | right now" or "I am prosperous in all ways." Write |
| on a much broader scale? Do you realize how | | | | down your positive phrase and post it |
| powerful your thoughts are and the effect they | | | | everywhere to reinforce the positive. |
| have on your life? | | | | Step 5: Repeat positive phrases several times a |
| What does your life look like right now? Do you | | | | day. In addition to stopping the negative thoughts, |
| have a fulfilling, nurturing relationship? Can and do | | | | you want to start reprogramming your brain with |
| you talk to your kids? Do you like where you | | | | positive, good thoughts. So write down your |
| live? Do you have a job or business that is | | | | positive thoughts and carry them with you. |
| rewarding and fun? Would you like to make any | | | | Repeat them several times a day to yourself. |
| changes? | | | | What I personally have found is that I don't start |
| So "what are you thinking?" Do you believe that | | | | with something I feel is too far out of my reach. |
| you can create the life you dream of? If your | | | | I did not start by saying "I am a millionaire" |
| answer is yes, then you probably are already | | | | because my brain immediately said "Yeah, right!" |
| using the steps we'll discuss here. If you said | | | | But I started reprogramming in small ways. |
| maybe or no, then keep reading. | | | | When I was younger, my father (who's now 90) |
| Thoughts are powerful. If you repeat something | | | | said that $25,000 a year was a great income and |
| enough times, you start to believe it. And when | | | | people should be happy with that. (And when my |
| you believe something, you start creating that in | | | | father was young, that was a great income.) |
| your life. If you find you're not making the | | | | I'm sure you can guess what happened in my |
| progress you want in your life, start here. | | | | career. For years, I could not earn over $25,000 |
| Step 1: Become aware of your thoughts. If you | | | | a year. I wasn't happy with that income. I felt |
| are new to this process, then at the end of the | | | | worth more. Can you relate to that? Are you |
| day, take five minutes and reflect on how you | | | | receiving what you're worth - in your career and |
| felt. Did you feel peaceful or frazzled and | | | | relationships? |
| stressed? Were your thoughts about how | | | | I started reading books like "Think and Grow Rich" |
| everything is falling perfectly into place, or how | | | | by Napoleon Hill. I read many other books on |
| you'll never get everything done? Do you ever | | | | thinking prosperously, and I learned that what my |
| say things like "Oh, we can't afford that," "I'm | | | | life looks like on the outside is a direct reflection |
| always tired," "I'd love to start my own business, | | | | of what I'm thinking on the inside. |
| but I could never do that" or "My kids are always | | | | About 10 years ago when I was being |
| in trouble"? Start becoming aware of what you | | | | interviewed for a job I really wanted, I started |
| say and what you think, and then notice how | | | | repeating "I am offered $32,500 as my starting |
| often those thoughts occur. As you become | | | | salary." (The salary for the position was $30,000.) |
| more familiar with this process, then become | | | | This was a stretch for me considering my |
| aware of your thoughts more often during the | | | | previous programming. The hiring process took |
| day. | | | | several months so I had a lot of time to keep |
| Step 2: Observe your life. Are you happy? Are | | | | repeating my desired salary. Upon hire, I was |
| you working in a job or business that you love? | | | | offered $32,500. I stayed with that company for |
| Do you have great relationships that nurture you? | | | | almost 5 years and more than doubled that |
| Most of us have areas in our life that we want to | | | | starting salary. |
| improve upon. But first think about the | | | | Step 6: Congratulate and celebrate your |
| accomplishments you've made in your life and | | | | successes. As you begin making changes, |
| take a few moments to really be proud of what | | | | acknowledge yourself. And as you start to |
| you did. You did that!! It might have been difficult, | | | | achieve your dreams, celebrate! Reinforce the |
| but you did it! Congratulations. Take a few | | | | feelings you have after your accomplishments - |
| moments to imagine a celebration in your honor. | | | | big and small. |
| No matter how big or how small, your | | | | If you become aware of your thoughts, you can |
| accomplishment matters. Celebrate yourself! Now, | | | | change them. Even if you say one less negative |
| consider the dreams that you haven't achieved or | | | | statement a day, you're making progress. And |
| that you've even given up on. Many times our | | | | when you replace negative thoughts with positive |
| thoughts kill our dreams. So flip a switch and take | | | | ones, your life starts moving in a more positive |
| those wonderful feelings of accomplishment and | | | | direction. If you journal, write down where you |
| KNOW that you can achieve other things in your | | | | are in this process today and then check back in |
| life as well, even if your dream seems far away. | | | | a month and then in three months and see the |
| Step 3: Stop the negative thoughts. Once you | | | | progress you've made. |
| start to be aware of the negative thoughts that | | | | You can create the life of your dreams. It starts |
| pop up during the day, the next step is to stop | | | | with baby steps. You deserve the best. So |
| them. When I was aware of less than positive | | | | now..."What Are You Thinking?" Be excited about |
| thoughts creeping in, I would say "STOP" to | | | | achieving your dreams. |
| myself (sometimes silently and sometimes out | | | | You deserve happiness, love, peace and joy. |
| loud). I would picture a huge Stop sign coming | | | | Don't let anyone or anything steal that. Blessings... |
| right in front of my face. Others have worn a | | | | |