Animals, pets or wild, live more purely than we as humans do. They are completely true to who they are supposed to be, and they are living their purpose. Granted, they are not as intelligent as humans, but we can certainly take a lesson from their genuine nature.
 
They don’t try to impress. They don’t pretend to be something other than what they are. They don’t hide their feelings. And they even follow social norms within their group. They are who they are, and they don’t even think about being anything else. A bear doesn’t think, “I’ll be a deer today.” A fish doesn’t say, “I think today I shall be a whale.”  That only happens in stories. I recently read a children’s book to my granddaughter where the bunny thought he would try to be another animal, but in the end, found he liked it best just being a bunny.
 
Our best life can be lived when we too discover that it’s best when we are just being ourself, being who we are meant to be. We are all individuals. We all have things that make us different, that make us special. If we were all the same that would be rather boring. Our differences complement each other. That’s what make for an efficiently run company, the different talents each employee brings to the table. If everyone was good at the same thing the company, or the world, wouldn’t thrive. We can and should value the differences of each other.
 
No one can be you better than you! Embrace it. Own it. Be courageous. Don’t live your life feeling like you need to be a certain way because that’s what someone else expects of you. It’s not fair to put those types of expectations on anyone. One shouldn’t try to impose their will or pass judgement on someone else because they don’t fit into their mold or into their expectations.
 
True love is unconditional. If someone doesn’t like you because you’re different in some way, find new friends. A true friend loves you because you are genuine and true to yourself. Phonies often live lives of quiet desperation, thinking they have to be a certain way to have friends, or so someone will like them. I dare say, you will find friends that will like you for who you really are when you are true to yourself, and not being fake or putting on airs.
 
We can only find true freedom and happiness when we live life being ourself, our true genuine self and being honest about who we are on the inside. We CAN be like the animals who live free, happy lives, being true to themselves and being who God created them to be.
 
As humans, we can even do better. We can be kind, respectful, loving, caring, accepting and appreciating each person, each individual, knowing they too, just like you and me, are created by God and that they are living the life they are meant to live, even when it looks different.
 
For those that have not been living completely yourself, give yourself permission to be you, the real you. Find your freedom and the happiness that you so deserve.
 
To those who have been placing expectations on others, love them unconditionally. You too will find a new sense of freedom when you let that go and rejoice with them in love and freedom. We can all strive to love more because LOVE WILL overcome!

Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash

Thinking is the one mental function each of us have that is 100% controllable. The problem is most people don’t think. They let what’s going on around them control their thoughts and feelings. To choose your thoughts and to think the way you want to think requires much more effort and energy than it does to think thoughts that come from outside sources or influences.

Wallace Wattles, author of The Science of Getting Rich says, “There is no labor from which people shrink as they do from that of sustained and consecutive thought; it is the hardest work in the world.” But that is what must be done in order to control your thinking, to respond and not react, and to guard your thought from intrusive negativity.

How often have you heard someone say, “I can’t help how I feel”, or “I can’t help how I think.” They just don’t know any better. We CAN control our thinking. Thinking creates feelings and feelings create actions. Action then creates our life, our outer world, and the results we get.

It starts with awareness. Noticing what you’re thinking, how you’re feeling, and what triggers you to think and feel a certain way. I have a friend that has created the habit of saying, “interesting”, and then goes into where the feelings are coming from, rather than letting it trigger or upset her. When staying out of the negativity, it’s easier to be more objective in looking at those thoughts and to sort it out.
​
Often, it’s those closest to us that trigger the negative thoughts and feelings. I’ve experienced family members making remarks aimed at me that can be hurtful or upsetting. With persistent effort I am getting better at letting it roll off, so it doesn’t touch my core. Realizing each person has their own journey and lessons to learn has been helpful in controlling my thoughts and feelings. We can’t control anyone else’s thoughts, only our own. I choose to stay above the problem, stay out of the hurt, and don’t go down in it. Filling my thought with love, staying out of anger, worry and hurt allows me to maintain my peace and joy.

Let’s look at thoughts that will get you the results you want in your life. You must think thoughts of possibility, affirm what you want, and believe you can have it. You must never entertain doubtful thoughts. They will stop you from getting what you want. Jack Canfield says, “1% doubt and you’re out.” Keep feeding your mind positive, empowering thoughts. Consistently affirm what you want to show up in your life and you will eventually believe it, if you don’t already. You have to have unwavering belief that you can have what you want.

Guard your mind and the thoughts you let in. Be careful about what thoughts you entertain. You MUST NOT let anyone else steal your dream, not even yourself and the voices in your head that shout limiting thoughts at you. If you have the dream, there is a way for it to happen, even if you don’t know how. Replace the limited thinking with thoughts of “I am. I can. I will.”  You have unlimited potential just waiting to emerge. Start thinking thoughts of possibility, thoughts of encouragement and empowerment.

Use your thinking mind to learn and decide for yourself what you want to accept as true. Don’t let someone else do your thinking for you. It's easy to get bombarded by the media. You must be diligent in deciphering what thoughts you want to let into your mind. Don’t let outside influences control your thinking. You must maintain that control and decide for yourself. In fact, be careful how much media you even pay attention to.

Being aware of your thinking is the first step in recognizing that you CAN choose the thoughts you think. Be persistent in your awareness. With practice it’ll get easier. Always strive to elevate your thought. Keep your thoughts positive, and your mind open to receiving what the universe and God has in store for you. You are then on your way to living your best life.

Photo by Rebe Pascual on Unsplash

You really can have anything you want. You have the potential to create whatever you want in your life. BUT, if you have the least bit of doubt that you can do it, that you can have it, that you deserve it or that it’s possible, it won’t happen. You MUST HAVE BELIEF to accomplish your goals and desires.

You must believe you can do it, even if you don’t know how. You must believe that you can have it. You must believe that you deserve it. You must believe that it is possible for YOU! It’s not necessary to have it figured out, to know how, when or where the resources are coming from. You just have to believe. Then start taking action to move toward your goal and the rest will show up when you need it, as long as you believe, focus and take action.

Beliefs are thoughts that you keep thinking over and over until it is ingrained into your mind. We can use affirmations to change beliefs. Create a positive statement, in the present tense, of what you want to have or create. Repeat it over and over. Post it where you can see it many times throughout the day. You are reprogramming your mind to believe this new truth about you. You are creating a new belief.

William James is quoted, “Belief creates the actual fact.”

Affirmations work for anything, creating wealth, health, fitness, relationships, travel, or anything else you want to manifest in your life or habits you want to form. For example, you want to release weight and drop two sizes, you could say, “I am so comfortable in my body and I feel so good wearing a size 10. I love how my clothes fit me.” Always keep it positive, never use any negative words like lost weight, or not, don’t, un___, or other negative words in general.

Most beliefs are based on past experiences. Many we gained as children. Our parents taught us their beliefs. Examine your beliefs and where they came from. Are they empowering, positive, happy? Or are they limiting, negative and fearful or self-deprecating? A belief is not necessarily a truth. As we gain knowledge, as we learn and understand on a deeper level, our beliefs can change.

Creating an awareness of what your beliefs really are and where they come from can help you to decide if it’s true or not, and if you really want to keep that belief or let it go. Many beliefs we need to let go of if we really want to live the life we want and find greater freedom. Limiting beliefs stop us from moving forward, they keep us stuck where we are. If you feel stuck, look at your beliefs. Is that what’s keeping you where you are? Probably.

Our beliefs form our perceptions. This can be quite a subtle way of limiting your life. The way you see something, comes from what you believe about it. But this too may not be the real truth. Everything just is…until we put our own spin on it and make it either good or bad. How many times have you observed a person seeing something as good, and someone else will see the exact same thing and think it’s bad? It happens a lot. It’s based on perception and belief.

To achieve more in life and to live a better life, limiting beliefs must be replaced with empowering beliefs. You must create a new mental story to replay in your thinking. Stop the broken record of “I’m not good enough, I’ll could never do that”, etc. Consistent, positive, empowering affirmations will rewire your mind to take you where you want to go. Choose thoughts like, “I am good enough, I am deserving of every good in life. I am making a difference. I am manifesting my desires.” Stick with it. Be aware of your thoughts and beliefs. Correct any negative ones right away. Don’t let them in. Guard your thought.

Napoleon Hill says, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” You absolutely have unlimited potential and can achieve anything you want, as long as you believe you can! I believe in you. Now you believe in yourself and go achieve your dreams!

Photo by Katrina Wright on Unsplash

There certainly seems to be a lot going on in our world right now with the pandemic, economic issues and add to that the protests and rioting around race issues. It is indeed a sad situation. But it is also the time for us to command control of our own thinking and to not get sucked into the turmoil.

​We must never forget, the one thing that cannot ever be taken away from us is our right to think and choose our own thoughts. While observing what’s going on, we must be very careful to keep our own thought above it. Problems are not solved with the same thinking that created the problem. It is essential to keep our thoughts above the problems, focused on harmony and love. The solutions will then become clear.
 
The great leaders, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad to name a few, have all agreed, you must love your neighbor and love yourself. This is always the essential factor, they said.
 
Marin Luther King, Jr. addressed the topic of love many times. He said, “At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.” He held to the principle that all are created equal and that there “can be no place for political violence.” He also said, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” and “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” Love is truly the answer.
 
Months into the pandemic and many of us have seen a lot of good come from it. There has been a lot of “loving your neighbor” going on, much kindness being expressed, more than prior to the onset of the virus and quarantine. That should become the basis of our new normal, as we then strive to improve on that and love even more. Each day ask yourself, what can I do today to show love more than I did yesterday?
 
George Harrison said, “With our love, we could save the world.” We must hold to the truth that love is more powerful than hate. Love CAN overcome all. What we think and do to show love, can and will have an impact on the world. “Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule” says Buddha.
 
We must refuse to let our thinking be influenced by the masses and be fully aware of the thought choices we make. We must not let fear grab hold but instead have faith and trust that good will prevail. By loving others and ourselves, we can turn the tide. We can do something about all the turmoil. And it starts with our thought and filling it with love. Love for each other and love for mankind.
 
Euripides said, “Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other.” As we maintain control of our thinking, fill it with love for all, and keep it focused on the good outcome we want, then we can truly help the world thought and improve the world situation. Be certain to not let outside negativity and fear have any hold on your thought. We must be persistent in our efforts to improve our thinking and maintain love filled thoughts. When we do this, Love must prevail… Love WILL prevail!

Photo by Victoria Tronina on Unsplash