Why do some people always seem to have things go their way? Is it good luck, or have they mastered the art of positive thinking?

It is a basic fact of psychology that you become what your mind pictures. Think of how athletes are able to train themselves to master this concept.

VISUALIZE, MATERIALIZE
The concept behind positive thinking is that a person’s thoughts – conscious and unconscious – dictate the reality of their lives, whether they are aware of it or not. In other words, if we picture concepts in our conscious mind, it will impress them within our subconscious mind and put those thoughts into action.

SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER

• ”These thoughts can be related to body pain, emotional issues, or goals you wish to attain.
• Since affirmative thoughts are more powerful than negative thoughts, our focus should always be on what we want, rather than what we don’t want.
• Our affirmation – our goal stated in a short phrase – should be in the first person, in the present tense, and in the positive.

Though the fundamental principles are the same, my favorite sources each present them in their own style. By understanding the basics, and with the help of some mental exercises, we can learn how to develop this skill:

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING
After discovering his book, The Power of Positive Thinking, I was fortunate to attend Marble Collegiate Church in New York City and hear Reverend Norman Vincent Peale preach. His words could sting or warm you, and magically seemed to give each audience member around me a personal message, as noted by their reactions after his sermons.

In his book, his warm, folksy way of explaining his concepts includes actual examples and is very unintimidating. The fact that they are not current does not seem to matter. His focus is on one’s outlook on life.

I like his analogy of emptying your mind by imagining you are emptying a wastebasket, to relieve the clutter of tired thoughts. Every page reminds you that enthusiasm is the self-releasing power that helps our personality focus on the matters at hand.

THE SECRET
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is more analytical, but I like her use of these straightforward mantras:

• “Ask, believe, receive.”
• “Thoughts become their physical equivalents.”
• “If you see it in your mind, you will hold it in your hand.”

Byrne bases her theories on the Law of Attraction, which states that the universe is governed by a matching of frequencies of a person’s experiences with their thoughts.

A suggested exercise seemed easy: think of an old friend or a certain place and see if it somehow comes back into your life. The fact that it worked has given me a deeper sense of belief!

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUES – EFT
I first heard of Emotional Freedom Techniques – or EFT – from a friend in the military. It’s founder, Gary Craig, had initially utilized his technique on soldiers suffering from PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder – with much success.

EFT is the psychological form of acupuncture. According to Chinese medicine, acupuncture works on the meridian system, the pathways that supply energy throughout the body.

Instead of needles, you stimulate those major pathways by massaging and tapping them while repeating your affirmation. It is the powerful combination of the physical and mental focus on the pain/problem/issue that brings results.

This simple tapping process only takes a few minutes a day. Repeat your mantra out loud, three times, as you tap:

• The sides of the palms of each of your hands
• Your forehead
• The sides of your eyes
• Under your eyes
• Under your nose
• Under your chin
• Your collar bones
• Each side of your body, under your arms
• The top of your head

LET IT FLOW
It is amazing how once you “tune in” to this process of consistent, positive thought, it will direct you to find a way toward your goals. You must let it flow, even if it leads you into new directions.

Many goosebumps later, I can attest to reflecting on a path that has unwound itself slowly before me with some twists and turns, but always so much like the original plan I had created for myself.

Though this all might seem mystical, think of it as a pact between you and yourself to dedicate a few minutes a day to teach yourself to maneuver through life, capitalizing more on your senses.

The very personal nature of the exercise, the discipline, and the fine-tuning will transform you from the person you are today to the person you would like to be.

Author’s Note:
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