My last blog post, “Time to Wake Up,” addressed how what we think consciously and believe subconsciously affects how we act and react to the world around us, and how our thoughts can directly influence our future. This principle, nowadays called “The Law of Attraction (LOA),” has actually been around for thousands of years and can be found in the Bible and many other spiritual texts and teachings. So it is important that we first identify our habitual thought patterns, to see which ones are serving us and which might be holding us back from achieving the sort of life we would like to have.

Following is a series of questions to help you in this thought identification process.

Do you often say or think any of the following:

• I’m too ___ (tired, sick, achy, weak, old, young, fat, ugly, stupid, etc.)
• I’ll never be able to _____ (fill in the blank)
• I’m not ______(fill in the blank)
• I’m a bad sleeper
• I can’t relax…I can’t concentrate…I can’t lose weight…I can’t get up early…I can’t _______ (fill in the blank)
• I’m always late / I’m always running behind schedule
• I never have any money
• I’ll never get out of debt
• I’m never at the right place at the right time
• It’s all the fault of my dysfunctional parents/family…my bad childhood…the traits I inherited from my parents, etc.
• I’m just a victim of ______.
• I have no control over what happens to me
• I never get a break
• It’s Murphy’s Law
• I just look at food and gain weight
• I’m getting…(old, fat, sick, worn out, forgetful, poorer)
• I’ve only got a few more years left
• I’m not ____ enough (i.e., smart, attractive, thin, talented, skilled, educated, rich) — or:  I don’t have enough ______ (brains, education, looks, money, ability, luck, talent, etc.)
• Something that good can never happen to me
• I’d never be so lucky
• I never win anything
• Other people get everything, and I get nothing
• This is just my luck (or) I never have any luck
• I hate that person
• I look horrible in everything I put on
• I never take a good picture
• I’ll never have enough ____ (money, time, ability, health, etc.)
• I’m so afraid of _____ 
• I really dread _______
• I’m not feeling well – it’s probably cancer
• I will probably get (name the disease), because it runs in my family (or because so many people get it).
• I live in constant fear of getting (this disease).
• I HATE (cancer, diabetes, asthma – or any disease)
• We must FIGHT cancer (or other disease or problem)
• Getting old sucks
• I’m getting senile
• I just can’t lose weight
• I can’t cope with this
• What if _____ (imagining something bad and then worrying about it)
• I always have too much work
• I hate my job and I’ll never get a better one
• I don’t have enough to give to or share with anyone else
• I’ll never forgive _____ (fill in name(s))
• I’m too…(old, tired, busy, far gone)…to care about my looks or my health anymore
• Everyone gets (fat, sick, high blood pressure, diabetes, memory loss) as they age.
• I’m just falling apart
• It’s hopeless
• I never get good weather on my vacations or when I plan something

Do you often:

• Gossip or complain about someone, or join in gossip/complaining about someone?
• Try to instigate trouble and bad feeling among others?
• Argue over and/or ridicule someone’s political or spiritual opinions?
• End a friendship or become estranged from a family member because of differing political or spiritual beliefs?
• Feel you have nothing to be thankful for?
• Compare yourself negatively to other people?
• Make nasty, snide or critical comments or cruel jokes in person or on social media?
• Refuse to buy something you really wanted or needed, even though you have more than enough money to afford it, because you’re afraid to spend any money?
• Make self-deprecating comments or denials when someone compliments you?
• Criticize someone, and/or try to make someone else do things your way?
• Harbor resentment or bitterness towards someone? Keep thinking about how to get even? Wish bad things on them?
• Respond instantly with anger to someone else’s words or actions?
• Try to control and “fix” other people’s lives rather than letting them learn from their experiences in their own way?
• Frequently make or share self-deprecating remarks or jokes about being stupid, fat, old, forgetful, or other negative things?
• Forward emails or share social media posts encouraging hatred against anyone or anything (political figures, celebrities, certain races, ethnic groups, religions, etc.)?
• Say, “I HATE____” (fill in the blanks)?
• Talk at length and frequently about your illnesses or someone else’s?
• Feel envy towards someone? Withhold a compliment from someone because you secretly envy them?
• Try to take something/someone away from a person because you think you deserve it more? Try to turn others against someone because you’re jealous?
• Constantly worry about your loved ones and what could happen to them, or about losing your partner, your money, your health, etc.?

Okay, so you probably identified with at least several – and maybe a lot – of these. Some of them might rarely or never pertain to you, while others are fairly frequent. If so, welcome to the human race! We ALL think, say or do these things from time to time. A fleeting thought or occasional slip-up won’t have a significant effect on your life or your future. If, however, you habitually think, do or say any of them, and if the thoughts carry a strong emotional charge, you are setting yourself up to attract exactly what you say you hate, fear and don’t want! This is because our subconscious mind believes everything we tell it, whether it’s true, false, good or bad. It is merely responding to our conscious thoughts, words and actions, like an obedient, cooperative child. It doesn’t analyze whether the thoughts are good or bad for you, positive or negative. Analyzing and choosing are the domain of the conscious mind; the subconscious just accepts what we tell it.

Consequently, with our negative thoughts we will attract, or subconsciously be attracted to, just the circumstances and people that we want so much to avoid! Also, fighting against something negative is never as effective as striving instead to bring about a positive result. For example, instead of hating and “fighting” a disease, it’s better instead to think wellness and health, and do whatever we can to promote these positive qualities. Mother Teresa, now St. Teresa of Calcutta, was quoted as saying:“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.”

Negative thinking also will block any good things that God wants to send us. Nothing is forced on us by God, who respects and honors our free will. Negative thinking is like keeping your hands behind your back when someone offers you a gift. You cannot accept the gift unless your hands are open to receive it.

LOA experts recommend that we shift our positive thoughts to at least 51% over the negative ones. Even this 1% over the halfway mark could be enough to dramatically change one’s life. I believe that the more we can shift our thoughts from the negative to the positive, the quicker and more dramatic the change will be!

Legend says that in the Buddha’s travels, he encountered a man who was awed by his peaceful, radiant persona. The man asked, “My friend, what are you? Are you a celestial being? Are you a god? A magician? A wizard?” The Buddha replied, “No. I am awake.”

Jesus told His followers that if they had faith “the size of a mustard seed” they could move mountains. He also told them that, with enough faith and belief, they could do all the things that He had done, and even greater things.

We cannot even begin to improve our lives unless we become awake and aware of the negative thoughts and lack of faith we harbor on a daily basis. Otherwise, we walk around in a perpetual state of “automatic pilot” and unconsciousness. Once you become aware, you will begin to notice any instances in which you are thinking or speaking negatively. You also will be shocked and dismayed at all the negativity you will notice around you from other people! In upcoming posts we’ll examine these negative thoughts and attitudes and explore ways to bring about positive change and achieve our goals and dreams.

Have a positively wonderful day!