Thoughts Can Change Our Lives

Abraham Lincoln said, "People are about has happy as they decide to be."

Keeping our thoughts positive simply works better than the alternative. Thoughts create and shape our experience of the world. If we think our life is lousy, our life probably is. If we think life is great and full of possibilities, our life will most likely be that way.

Let me tell a story about the power of the mind to change our reality. Several years ago I was working with a client who had come to me because he needed help. He had a constant ringing in his ears. He had gone to the best experts in the country and no one was able to help him. I listen carefully to his story and concerns. I felt a deep compassion for his struggles with sleep, with keeping focused, and with the endless irritation of the noise. I could feel him battling with himself over this.

In a wonderful moment of inspiration, an inspired idea came to me. What I had heard for the past 30 minutes was that this ringing in his ears was an enemy. He was determined to defeat it. I looked over at him and said, "I have something I want you to think about." He looked up curiously and said, "ok, what is it? I said, "I want you to try another viewpoint." "Instead of seeing this sound as something you need to fix, how would it be if you viewed this sound as a friend, an ally or maybe even a way to remind you of your link to a Higher Power?" His face lit up like a porch light coming on at sunset. He said, "I am going to have to think about this." "Can I see you next week?" I smile and shook my head yes.

Well next week came fast for both of us. He walked into my office and looked rested, happy and fully of life. He proceeded to tell me how everything had changed. I was overwhelmed with joy because I saw that this amazing human being had taken a simple question and used it to transform his world. That is the power of positive thinking.