The mind is an incredible servant but a terrible master.  Winston Churchill said, “The price of greatness is responsibility over each of your thoughts.”  Do you control your thoughts or have they become your master?  Are your thoughts awe inspiring or impoverished and out of control?  Impoverished thinking includes regrets of the past, fears of future disasters, resentment, hate, blame, shame, guilt, shoulds and shouldn’ts, undirected daydreams, fantasies, and reveries, gossip, and needless mind chatter. 

The first step in unleashing the powers of your mind is to monitor your thinking for a day and see how much impoverished thinking you engage in.  In fact, it is best if you write down every one of your impoverished thoughts.  This includes lamenting your unfair life stories to others. The reason it’s important to write it down is because it makes you aware of how much impoverished thinking you do during the day.  You can only change that which you are aware of.

The second step is to have replacement thoughts that motivate, inspire, or create a sense of appreciation and gratitude for the people and things you cherish in life.  Mantras or affirmations are also good replacements.  I use, “Success comes to those who first conquer the powers of their mind.  I control my thoughts.  I control my destiny.”  Catalogue thoughts you would like to think under specific headings and be sure to write them down as well.

Finally, you need a tool to help you switch from negative, impoverished thinking to inspiring, positive thinking.  In the Remote Control for Stress Relief I shared such a tool.  Now let me show you how you can turn your cell phone, blackberry, or other communication device into a remote for changing your thought patterns.  Go to any office or school supply store and purchase those little round file folder tags.  They are quite inexpensive and come in assorted colors.  You will need a red one and a green one.  On the red circle write “STOP.” On the green dot, draw a dark black up arrow.  Place both dots on the back of your communication device.  You now have a remote control to change your thoughts.

When you become aware of impoverished, negative thinking, get out your communication device and press the red “STOP” button just as you would use the stop button on a video remote to stop or pause a movie.  Now push the green up button to remind you to start thinking positively or in an uplifting manner.  Recite your affirmation, mantra, or other phrase that inspires you to greatness.  Then bring your attention back to the task at hand.

This is not something that you do once or twice.  You must be tenacious until all your negative, impoverished thinking dissolves into oblivion.  Also, be gentle and patient with yourself if you forget.  It’s ok.  You can use the device when you remember. 

You have the potential to be everything you wanted to be as a child but gave up on because life got in the way.  I know you can do it.  I believe in your potential to reach incredible heights.  As Jim Volvano, late, former basketball coach at North Carolina State University who died of brain cancer said, “Don’t give up.  Don’t ever give up.”  If you are having trouble making your device or need help in changing your thinking give me a call at 336 347 7267 or email me at tonypiparo@yahoo.com.