You Got the Power!

Appeared in Science of the Mind September “The Power of the Mind” Issue 

I’m telling you the natural facts for what it’s worth.

You make your own heaven and hell right here on earth.

The Temptations

We have the power to make our life heaven or hell. Our thoughts create our reality. A change in thought changes everything. One new thought can change our entire life. When we choose a growth mindset and consider that every experience is simply a coaching moment – simply learning – all is possible.

Better thoughts equal a better life. While it is that simple, it is not necessarily easy. Changing our mindsets tends to be hard, but we are worth the effort! By choosing to live consciously and intentionally, and with relentless practice, we get to experience heaven on earth in this moment.  

As Ernest Holmes stated, “A trained mind is far more powerful than the untrained mind.” Our untrained mind will default to habitual thoughts and patterns. Once upon a time my issues had issues because my default thoughts were hellish due to my childhood, a childhood I now laughingly refer to it as my military service, PTSD included. My mom was bi-polar, mean spirited whose demons finally won out when she committed suicide. My Latino father, while achieving the American dream with a sixth-grade education and heavy accent, dealt with his demons by being a raging alcoholic. My grandfather, quite simply, was a pig. I thought life was to be endured at best, God was mad at me, and no matter what, I was doomed to go down south – very far south.

We all have stories. We are not our stories. We have the power to choose the life we want – one thought at a time. With a heart of joy and gratitude I know the miraculous can occur when one shifts one’s thoughts and focus from punishment and torment to preparation and thriving. A change in thinking can energize and transform our lives from the inside out. Everything has a purpose. We have a purpose!

Change our thoughts, change our experiences. We have the power of the mind to choose self-empowering, positive and loving thoughts instead of the habitual self-defeating, depressive and yukky thoughts. Every thought has power. Every thought counts. We get to create a new story line, if we choose, of heaven in us, of heaven surrounding us.

Nothing holds us hostage but our thoughts. The enemy is in our mind. There is no them. Quite the reality check! The good news:

What the mind created, the mind can change!

We are far more powerful than we imagine. We have the power to change our lives one thought at a time. Our DNA, our past or our experiences do not define us – our thoughts do. It’s not how we start in life, it is how we finish. We get to choose!

Consider choosing these thoughts: Life is to be enjoyed! I was made on purpose for a purpose. I rock! I am amazing! I am a marvel from head-to-toe! I love me! Life is so madly in love with me that I get countless do-overs. Every bad choice gets me closer to the right choice. There are no failures, only learning. Progress, not perfection. Dear Past, Thank you for the experience and lessons. Hello, Future, I’m ready for your outpouring of love, joy and abundance. I am perfect in my imperfections.

These thoughts are true. You are perfect in your imperfections. You are amazing. You are the energy and essence of God. How we speak to ourselves is crucial to changing our mindsets. Our subconscious is always listening.

Self-correction is good. Self-condemnation is counter-productive. There are no brownie points for suffering. Let’s talk about the past in an empowering, laughable and inspiring way. Unleash your potential and possibilities with the right thoughts. Change your thoughts, change your world.

What thoughts are you thinking?

Begin by becoming consciously aware of your every thought. By the way, please don’t believe everything you think. Please understand that experts can be wrong and opinions do not equal fact. Now as you are conscious of your thoughts, actively observe and evaluate them.

• Does this thought make me feel confident or crushed?

• Does this thought make me feel priceless or worthless?

• Does this thought make me feel limitless or limited?

• Does this thought make me feel happy or sad?

• Does this thought make me feel energized or drained?

You get to choose. Choose for you. When the thought is not life-enhancing or life-affirming, ask yourself: “How can I think about this differently?” “Whose voice is this?” I’ve concluded that our inner critic began as an outer voice.

Accept the fact there will be a wrestling match with your old, limiting thoughts and beliefs. Just breathe, smile and observe. Choose to use the power of your mind by changing your thinking. Re-direct. Re-frame. Re-focus to a constructive, good, positive and loving thought. The quality of your thoughts directly impacts the quality of your life.

Changing our thoughts changes our state of mind and emotions. As Ernest Holmes suggests, let’s live life to its fullest by choosing thoughts that lead to a greater, more expansive experience. Let’s use our minds to look at life with awe for all that is right in the world, and all that is right with us. Let’s live from our potential, not the past. Let’s live heaven on earth, here and now.

Coaching Moment

Renew your mind and spirit by conducting a Thought Audit starting now.

If the thought you are thinking is constructive and life-giving, smile.

If not, hold that thought captive. It is only a thought, and thoughts can be changed. Choose a new self-empowering thought to replace and reprogram your mind.

Change one thought at a time.

Change your thoughts, change your world.

Change your world, change the world.

You can do it! You have the power!