31 Goals in 31 Days – Day 17 – The Power of Positive Thinking

I am a big Norman Vincent Peale fan, and one of my favorites is The Power of Positive Thinking.  Actually, I’m just a big fan of thinking positively in general.  There are a few ways that I incorporate positive thinking into my day.

First, I love positive affirmations.  These are statements that are your goals written in the present tense, as though you had already completed them.  There can be no negative words used either (like debt).  These are best read every morning and every evening.  I’ve gotten away from this routine a bit, but I noticed that when I was doing my Modular Day activity, so today’s goal is to put these positive affirmations back into the routine.

Kody Bateman, in his book Promptings, calls these I AM statements.  And, I love his quote, “The power of the I AM statement is that you already are!”  Here are a few of my I AM statements:

I AM a phenomenal wife and mother.

I AM blessed and highly favored.

I AM a child of the Most High God.

I AM living a life of abundance.

I AM attracting the right people into my business.

I AM financially free.

You get the idea.  I would recommend you write these I AM statements on an index card and read it at the minimum, every morning and every evening (more is fine too!).  Or, you can take it one step further…put your positive affirmations in a card with a picture of something that gives you wonderful feeling on the outside and send it to yourself.  I did this with a card of my children on the front (because that evokes really good feelings every time I look at it), and all of my I AM statements inside.

Second, I believe in the power of giving thanks for things before they happen.  I got this from reading The Power of Positive Thinking and have used this concept ever since.

I believe in God, and I believe He hears our prayers.  I also believe that He wants to bless us exceedingly and abundantly.  As it says in Malachi 3:10b, “Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

I also think that the majority who pray do so to ask for things.  “God would you please do…”  Long ago, I changed the way I pray to give thanks to God for providing things, if it is His will.  I know that everything that I have is not mine, but His.  I am just a custodian of the money, property, etc. while I am here on earth.  Ultimately, it is all His.  So, my prayers go something like this, “God thank you for your blessings.  Thank you for pouring out your financial blessings on our family, that we might glorify you using that money.  Father, thank you for giving me amazing success in business so that I can be used for your purpose…”

So, a suggestion.  When you pray, pray giving thanks for everything you want.  Know that you may not get it all (and if you are praying for things that are outside God’s will, chances are pretty good you won’t get anything), but be prepared to be amazed.  God loves to shower us with blessings because it makes Him look good when we are blessed and then give credit back to the Provider of the Universe.  When you are blessed, thank God for those blessings, and until then, thank God for the blessings to come.

Go forth and be positive!  Today’s goal is simple: Rewrite my I AM statements, send myself a new card with them inside, and begin to read them, out loud, every morning and evening.  Then, continue to thank God for the blessings that He continues to give.

Until tomorrow…

Psalm 105:1 “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”

To your success,

Dr. Laura