“What holds you back? How come you aren’t making more headway in your career or in life? Are you displeased with the results you have been getting? Does it seem tough to make positive changes? Are you troubled by negative thinking? Do you find changing your thoughts difficult? Is this you?

At some level most of us know that our beliefs and attitude determines how happy and successful we can be. We ‘get’ that what we think and feel can make a big difference for us in our careers and our lives.  It’s just that when it comes to actual practice we seem to get bogged down. We try and sometimes we give up.

I recently read an article that said negative thoughts are difficult to avoid and that positive thinking is tough. The author went on to state that it is better to change our beliefs instead. I thought what an interesting belief that is.

Beliefs are just thoughts we think over and over. They are thoughts, most of which, we have adopted from other people while growing up. They can be beneficial or detrimental. Many beliefs are ‘lies’ we heard so often or told ourselves so frequently that we simply came to accept them as true. Some serve us well while others don’t.

Beliefs are only chronic thoughts, habitual thinking. Habits are tenacious, whether good or bad. It requires some dedication to develop a habit or to change a habit. We can find it difficult or easy. Whether it IS difficult or easy or how long it takes IS completely up to us.

So what can you do? You can change thoughts (and beliefs) and there are times when you want to. Positive thinking may seem difficult because of what you are used to doing but it isn’t any more difficult than negative thinking. Negative thinking may be more familiar to you. IT is simply a matter of what you are used to. Having positive thoughts IS just as easy as having negative ones!

If YOU don’t like the results you have gotten in your life so far then to continue to think and do what you have done is silly. You won’t get anything different by doing the exact same thing. You need to make changes in order to get changes! Unless you change things will remain the same.

There is a purpose to negative thoughts. Primarily, less than glorious thinking serves to provide you feedback for when you are off course. It is part of your internal guidance system. You won’t hit your target UNLESS you recognize when you are off target. These thoughts and feelings alert you that something may be amiss. They arise so that you can make adjustments and corrections. They inform you that you are off course SO YOU CAN change your direction.

Negative thoughts and feelings help you to clarify what you want BECAUSE they are powerful indicators of what you don’t want. They tell you what you don’t want so you can better determine what YOU DO WANT INSTEAD! The negative should only serve to clarify the positive. That is their function and purpose.

Listen to them BUT just briefly then let them GO! They got your attention use the information and move on. Put your attention and focus on where you intend to go. Put it on the solution to a problem. Keep it on the positive. Think about what you want to be, do or have and pursue these.

You stop the negative and aim at your positive destination. Once you realize you have gone of course while traveling in your car you simply adjust and get back on course. You correct and head towards your destination. After all, that is where you want to go. Forget about having gone off course as that doesn’t get you there. Let it go!

If you don’t like the results you have been getting then you must change whatever you are thinking, feeling and doing in order to get the kind of results you prefer. It IS that simple! You must change something! It doesn’t have to be arduous.

Negative thoughts are only your old habits and you must build new ones. It takes some dedication but it can be far easier than you might believe it to be. Give it a shot. Surprise and delight yourself! Change can be fun.

The author of the article believed it was difficult to avoid negative thoughts and that positive thinking was difficult. Do you understand that is the pot calling the kettle black? The author THINKS positive thinking is difficult. If you believe something to be the case THEN it most likely is the case.

Beliefs set the frame. Beliefs organize our perceptions. If you believe something to be difficult you expect it to be difficult. Then it certainly may be. It works the same way if you believe something to be easy.

What we find to be the case  IS most often a matter of what we THINK it to be in the first place. Our attitude determines our altitude. Believe it and you will see it! There is a lot of research backing all this up.

The Placebo and Nocebo Effect demonstrate this. If you believe something (a pill, an exercise, an amulet, chicken soup, anything) will help you it certainly may. Research has shown that you can get statistically significant (positive) results even when there is nothing about it to make that so. This is the Placebo Effect. It is what we believe that is important!

If you believe nothing will help you then even though there are medicines and practices and foods (and yes, maybe even amulets)   that typically do help you may not experience the benefits. This is the Nocebo Effect. Nothing may help if you believe nothing will.

These effects are well studied and documented. They results are well known but not so well understood or put to good practice. At times, doctors, researchers and others who SHOULD know better may even dismiss something as ‘it is just the placebo effect’. WOW, that is the height of folly.

If you go to a medical practitioner having eaten a pear (or anything) and tell that person you magically feel better (because you do) and they say to you, ‘that is just the placebo effect’ then they have just violated their oath to ‘first do no harm’. They should say ‘FANTASTIC”, you are feeling better and continue to investigate the medical issue as necessary. They should not spoil a positive effect!

Even the medication you take (that has active ingredients demonstrated to benefit) or a practice you engage in IS subject to working because of the Placebo Effect. You believe it will benefit you and it does. These work together and are not isolated.

Beliefs work in concert with the ingredients to bring about positive change OR they work in opposition. The best combination is the healthiest practice. The most positive outlook and expectation is the wisest choice apparently. You want everything aimed positively!

It has also been demonstrated that even he care of a compassionate caregiver may be enough to help heal because the person believes in the caregiver. It has been demonstrated that the doctor’s belief in the medicine prescribed can help the patient to believe and to benefit as well. I think this is so incredibly cool! It speaks volumes about out abilities to benefit ourselves and each other.

So if you think changing your thoughts is difficult that may be the first belief you want to change! It can be easy and it can be exciting and it can even be fun. You, your mindset, determines what it will be. Start out by expecting the best. Why not? Have some fun!

Don’t talk yourself out of feeling wonderful because you don’t believe it is possible. Take a moment and doubt that one! Suspend your beliefs for a moment. Take a break long enough to try on something new. You may discover a better fit for yourself.

You take off your clothes and try on new ones when you are shopping for something new and different. You easily try on the new items while looking for ones you like and want to keep. It isn’t that difficult to change.

Although, you may look in the mirror and think ‘this is not my style’, it could be. It just isn’t your style, yet. Others wear these items. You just don’t because you haven’t and have not grown accustomed to dressing this way. You could wear it you just don’t want to. That is fine you do not have to BUT you COULD,

For you to get used to wearing it you’d probably have to do so for a little while. As a late teenager, I never thought I would or could enjoy wearing Hawaiian shirts and drawstring pants until a girlfriend insisted I wear them. If you try something different YOU might even enjoy it! You won’t know UNLESS you give it a worthy try.

Isn’t your attitude and your life more important that a new dress or suit of clothes? Don’t you owe it to yourself to take off old beliefs that may not serve you well and try on some new ones that may serve you better? AGAIN, you won’t know unless you give it a worthy try. Don’t sell yourself short because you OR someone else doesn’t think it possible. Give it a try.

Try on a new belief. Try it on for awhile and get comfortable with it. Try for 30 or 60 days. You’ll make the new belief. Yes, the old one may call to you for a while during the process but eventually it will let go and the new habit will take its place. Enjoy the process. Take it lightly. The more fun you decide to have with it the more fun and easier it will be. You will be surprised. You’ll be delighted.

In previous blog pages I have discussed how you can easily begin to change your thinking and change your life. You can be, do and have anything you want!  Start easily by filling your mind with positive and inspirational thoughts and ideas. Read at least a page from healthy positive inspiring books each day. Listen to audios. Take the initiative!

Go back and read through these blog pages again and again. Try on some of the approaches and practices. You will begin to utilize the secrets, tips and suggestions in your every day life. Change can be fun and easy. Take it lightly. Decide to enjoy it. As with a delightful meal savor it bite by bite. You will discover so many incredible moments when you do.” Rex Sikes

Help others smile more today and you will too!

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