[Continued
from Summer 2004 Newsletter]
Power
Thinking Put to Use
Had Jeff Bezos asked questions coming from fear rather than positive
possibility he probably would not have ever started his journey,
let alone stayed the course. It’s not that he faced no downside…
one big negative was that he had no expertise in technology…it’s
simply that this wasn’t the thrust of his consciousness. Well
directed, positive curiosity, such as Bezos displayed in the launching
of Amazon, is a cornerstone of Power Thinking.
Bezos
clearly listened to his emotions, letting his passion and desire,
as well as his intuition about where the web was headed in the
future, guide his actions. He also enlisted an attorney, web
experts and others to help him navigate the course of his new
business. Here again, without this willingness to reach out beyond
his own mind, he would probably not have succeeded.
Right
Brain Onboard
A big part of Power Thinking is imagination, using the right brain
and creativity as part of the thought process. It’s only when
doing this that we step outside the past and repeating what has
already been, and begin to create anew. Bezos displayed synthetic
creativity in the conceptualizing of Amazon…the bringing together
of things already in existence and synthesizing them into a new
form.
Our
creative abilities, coupled with faith and optimism, have unlimited
potential. As young children, we play make-believe naturally,
but as we move into adulthood we are often boxed into limited
thinking by parents and others trying to protect or correct us.
Relearning how to trust our creativity takes courage and practice.
With creativity, we open possibility; to design the next space
shuttle, write a Pulitzer Prize winning novel or create a world
class marriage takes dynamic, dream-based thinking. To unlearn
our limitations, we need to reprogram ourselves to think passionately
and creatively, to trust that amazing part of our mind.
Power
Tools for Power Thinking
One of the ways to reprogram limited thinking is to change
core beliefs. There are many power tools for doing this…meditation,
visualization, prayer, counseling, coaching, inspirational books,
a master mind group…but one of the best and most direct is the
crafting and regular use of affirmations.
How
Affirmations Work
Affirmations
are beliefs held, thoughts that become a core part of ones mental
and behavioral operating system.
For
example, a negative, externally imposed affirmation might come
from a parent who repeated to a child, “You’ll never amount to
anything” or “ You’re stupid.” Those thoughts then become the
unconscious reality that all behavior and possibility is based
upon, even into adulthood. Thoughts, repeated over time and with
emotion, create our beliefs. These beliefs become like a template
over which we measure any life possibility.
If
Jeff Bezos had the belief he would fail at anything he tried,
he would never have gone beyond the reading of that web statistic;
it would literally have never occurred to him that he might capitalize
on it. The good news is that many successful people overcome daunting
early negativity and override negative old tapes. And so can you!
Affirmations
can be deliberately created and our self beliefs changed. When
crafted with heartfelt emotion and clarity, and repeated over
time, affirmations become powerful, life-changing beacons directing
us to a greater future. Creating your own affirmations is your
opportunity to choose for yourself what you want to believe, not
settle for the spoon-fed programming served by your parents, peers
and culture.
Crafting
Affirmations
Creating affirmations
is akin to creating conscious self-talk. An affirmation is a statement
of what you choose to believe about yourself, spoken…
...In the first person
...Present tense
...Using positive terms (focusing on what you want...not
what you don’t want)
...Memorably
brief
...Using
vivid, active words…and emotion
Affirmations
crafted from your heart, your deepest desire, are best. Someone
elses words or ideas will fall flat. Some examples—not to
copy but just as a tickler to help with your own scripting—are:
I joyously create a profitable, successful business
My relationships are mutually supportive, loving and fun
I am confident, passionate and fulfilled in my work
I have ample time to do all I need or want to do
Claiming
the Change You Desire
Affirmations are powerful tools that help reprogram your core
insecurities, doubts and fears by helping you focus on what you
want to create, not on what you fear or dread. Daily repetition
of these messages, using visual, auditory and kinesthetic references…such
as affirmation cards, notes, a poster, audio tapes…will reinforce
the desired change in self belief. The more positive emotion
on board and the more senses you include, the better! So, using
a beautiful, symbolic illustrations, seeing the words, repeating
them aloud, reading them regularly…all help to integrate the message.
The
next time a positive opportunity dances across your mind and you
hear a voice dismissing it, telling you it isn’t possible or you
aren’t able, instead of letting it go, use it as a catalyst.
Sit down and craft a plan in the form of an affirmation…say YES!
to possibility, just like Jeff Bezos did…and watch your life change
in amazon proportions!
Visit our newsletter
archives to read the beginning of this article in the Summer
2004 issue of Affirming Spirit Newsletter.
Copyright
2004 Joy Nordquist. All rights reserved. Joy Nordquist, MA, is
a Professional Development Coach who works with career seekers
who want work they love so much it feels like play, and with independent
professionals and solopreneurs who want grow to their enterprise.
Her website is www.thejoyofsuccess.com
or she can be reached at joy@thejoyofsuccess.com
