Negative thoughts stick around because we believe them, not because we want them or choose them. Andrew Bernstein

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Lately I've found myself sucked into negative thoughts that seem to linger throughout my day. The slightest indication of criticism, the suggestion that things might not work out as planned or a hint that something negative is on the way is enough to send my mood pummeling downward.

It's not so much that I choose to dwell on negative thoughts as it is that I am struggling to push them away. I realized today that its not the fact that negative thoughts come that is causing the problem, it is our tendency to believe them.

I recently encountered an editor that seemed overly harsh in his assessment of my work, which cast a shadow of self-doubt over me. I thought it was the sting of criticism that was bothering me, but I realize now it was my belief in his criticism and the negative effects of self doubt that has caused the cloud of insecurity to envelop me. Today, I will choose to cast away my belief in my negative thoughts and get on with the business of working to reach my goals as I go forward in the direction of my dreams.

Strive today to chase negative thoughts from your life by refusing to believe that they have power over you. Look them square in the face and say, "I don't believe you." Know that refusing to believe them renders them powerless and opens your life to positive thoughts and positive energy.

Today, I am grateful for green grass, bright flowers and birds at my feeder. I am grateful for the fruit of my garden, for the call of the owl and the light from the sun. I am grateful for soft raindrops that fall to refresh the earth. 

I am grateful for family and friends who make my life rich, for the kindness of strangers who I meet throughout my day and for the vastness of the universe. I am grateful for the human mind and its infinite power to learn new things and reach new heights. 

I am grateful for good health, a sound mind and laughter. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you overcome your negative thoughts today by refusing to believe them as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”

According to the Laws of Attraction, our thoughts determine the direction of our lives. For those who have grown accustomed to the belief that thoughts merely come and that we have no control over them, this may not be a comforting thought. But for those who understand that we choose our thoughts, or at least we choose which we will focus on, it opens the door to enlightenment.

Before you declare that you do not have control over the thoughts that enter your mind, let's take a moment to explore that belief.  If I ask you to think about pizza, surely you can change your thoughts to images of crispy brown crusts, covered with melted cheese and dotted with hot spicy pepperoni. Chances are you have no difficulty visualizing your favorite pizza complete with topping and may even conjure up the aroma, taste and texture as well. Sure, my suggestion may have prompted it--just as circumstances and events in your life may prompt thoughts--but you chose to entertain the thought and create the image.

As human beings we have the remarkable ability to govern our thoughts and determine the direction they will go. It is this ability to direct our thoughts that determines the direction and circumstances of our lives. Jesus tells us in Matthew 17:20 "... For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Surely, if he instructs us in the measure of faith required to create action from our thoughts, the ability to choose those thoughts must lie within us.

Even though you are the director of your thoughts, there are times when it seems you simply cannot get an idea, a fear, or an annoying thought out of your head. Believe it or not, there is a reason for this. Your mind can not process a negative thought. Now, I know what you thinking. Look closely. I didn't say your mind can not think negative thoughts--I said it cannot process a negative thought. In this context a negative thought refers to your instructions to stop thinking about something. 

Let's give it a try, shall we? Right now. Right this very minute--do not think about penguins. Be strong. Be adamant. Instruct your mind not to think about penguins. What happened to your thoughts? The more you instruct your brain to NOT think about penguins the harder it is to move past the thought. The mind does not process the word NOT and focuses on penguins, simply because it is the way the mind functions. To remove the thought of penguins require a conscious shift in thought.

You probably had no problem erasing the image crispy pizza, but the image of penguins persisted. In the first instance, you simply changed your thinking away from pizza. In the second, you fed your mind a negative command and experienced your mind's inability to process a negative.

So what does all that have to do with your future? Everything. Many of us make the error or thinking about the things we don't want in life. We don't want to be fat. We don't want to be tired. We don't want to be poor. We don't want to think about penguins. In turn, our mind refuses to let go of the image and we release to the images of the things we don't want to the universe. It in turn complies and brings more of what we don't want into our lives.

If you want to change your life. Change your thoughts. Focus on what you do want and go forward to reach your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for the flickering light of a candle that adds warmth and comfort in cold winter months, for rich color that enhances my life and for artists who bring a canvas to life.

I am grateful for the department of transportation that works to keep winter roads clear, for firemen willing to risk their lives to save others and for electricians who keep our homes safe.

I am grateful for weathermen who warn me of winter storms, for news anchors who keep me informed and for television to brings news to the world.

I am grateful for my children who always make me proud, for a husband who shares my life and for siblings who have formed my world.

I am grateful for parents who taught me much, for teachers who showed me the way and college professors who encouraged me.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your thoughts be filled with goodness and light today that you may go forth and claim your dreams.