Do you realize that you currently posses the power to change your world? This may not be new news to some of you, but to others it may come as a total shock.

I didn’t realize that I possessed this power until several years ago when I picked up a classic book – The Power of Positive Thinking, written by Norman Vincent Peale. I was amazed when I read “Change your thoughts and you can change your world.” I thought to myself – can it be that simple?

At this point in my life, I faced many personal and professional challenges which mentally and physically drained me. Have you ever felt totally drained – mentally and physically? The thoughts that ran through my mind were less than positive. In fact, you can say that they were often mean. I beat myself up emotionally for all of the things that I didn’t accomplish as opposed to appreciating and rewarding myself for my successes.

Throughout the remainder of the book were testimonies of people who had changed their thoughts and changed their world. I was even more amazed and thought that it would be dynamic if I could incorporate their techniques into my life.

Have you ever been presented with a solution to your problems – but you don’t take action and make changes? That’s what I did (or rather didn’t do). I didn’t take action even though there was a little voice deep inside of me crying let’s do something different.

Before I took action, I wanted to know more about the power of our thoughts. I learned that most leading psychologists believe that we have approximately 60,000 thoughts each day. Even more dynamic… 95% of the thoughts that we have today, are the same thoughts that we had yesterday.

What will your life be like in ten years if you keep thinking the same thoughts? I distinctly knew what my life would be like! I saw a clear picture and knew that I needed to change it quickly.

I began studying how others changed their thoughts and then changed their world. In Man’s Search For Meaning, written by Viktor Frankl, it states how important one’s thoughts are in determining one’s survival and ability to find peace and happiness in spite of one’s trying circumstances. There are many other stories that back up the same findings. I learned how Les Brown, motivational speaker and author, changed his world in spite of the fact that he was born on the cold floor of an abandoned building and labeled educable mentally retarded. W. Mitchell educates and inspires audiences all around the world that it’s not what happens to us in life that determines our circumstances, but what we do with what happens to us. Years ago, he was unrecognizably burned and then a few years later, paralyzed.

All of this reading and studying convinced me that I possess the power to change my world just as you have the power to change yours. Just as Christopher Reeve changed his world. In spite of the trying circumstances he faced after his horseback riding accident that left him paralyzed – he established the Christopher Reeve Foundation and continued to educate and inspire others through his books and movies. making public speaking appearances. Additionally, he’s written a book. He’s done so much!! Several months ago, I watched one of his television specials. I was amazed when he said: “I will be walking by the time I am 50 years old.” He didn’t say I hope to be walking or if no one gets in my way I’ll be walking – he said: “I will be walking.” There’s a powerful difference in the two types of thoughts. Christopher has taken control of his life with the thoughts that he has and the words that he uses to convey those thoughts to others.

Now you know, you possess the amazing power to change your world through changing your thoughts. Let’s define how we can transform our negative thoughts into positive thoughts and what we need to do to remain positive. Transforming our negative thoughts into positive thoughts is one part of the equation. The next and most important part is to take action. Back your positive thoughts with positive action, and get positive results in your life – the results you deserve.

Þ Fill your mind with as much positive information as possible. The more your mind is flooded with positive information, the more your mind will reject negative information. Read autobiographies of people who have triumphed over tragedy. Read the comics or self-help books on change and mind control. Listen to motivational tapes. Listen to uplifting music.

Þ Anytime you have a negative thought write it down. Next to your negative thought, write a positive thought that you’ll use to replace your negative thought. For example, my negative thought is: “Dummy, you should have known better.” My positive replacement thought is: “You always do your best.”

Þ Keep a list of positive affirmations with you wherever you go. Positive affirmations are positive messages that you say to yourself to reinforce your goals, plans, and dreams. When you have a negative thought, override it by saying a positive affirmation out loud (or say it to yourself if you’re not alone). For example: “I deserve success!” or “I’m worth it!”

Þ Seek positive, constructive support. Seek out someone who will help you find positive, constructive solutions to your obstacles, someone who will lift your spirits and help you to move forward with you life.

Once you truly open your mind to the positive possibilities that your life contains and start practicing the above techniques you will get results immediately. The key is to take positive and immediate action. Negative thoughts will still flow into your mind, but realize that you have the choice to dwell on those negative thoughts and let them overcome you or transform them into positive thoughts, inspiring you to take positive action.

You have the power to make it a great day. You have the power to accomplish your goals and achieve your dreams. You have the power to build positive, productive relationships. The choice is yours – change your thoughts, take positive action and change your world!