When I was a child, I was paralyzed by fear at the prospect of athletic competition. I was always smaller than the other guys and I doubted my abilities to the point of not wanting to perform at all. I remember the knots in my stomach that would arrive in time for the physical fitness test in gym class. I was tortured by thoughts of failure, certain that I would embarrass myself in front of my classmates with my apparent inability. Sometimes I would get so worked up that I would become physically ill. I literally made myself sick. My mother would try to instill the power of thought/prayer/faith into my head, reminding me that if I thought I could, I would be able to perform at a level that far exceeded my past performance. I wanted to believe that it was true, but continued to reject the possibility of my success. My doubt and incessant worry actually infused the negative probabilities. As you might expect, it played itself out in reality. I would indeed perform up to my expectations, in line with my thoughts. I expected that I would not perform well and I succeeded in validating my thoughts.

We cannot effectively affirm that which we do not truly believe. If the tangible evidence is in contradiction to our current reality, a wishful affirmation will actually do more to empower our fears than to embolden our wishes. It becomes a battle of the unconscious, where your ego will begin to argue that what you are declaring is in opposition to the evidence. Transforming embedded thoughts into transformed beliefs is a gradual process. It requires continual practice, discipline and execution.

If you find yourself continually challenged by the same repetitive fears, your thoughts are most likely at the root of the conflict.

How do you allow your thoughts to hold yourself back?

Success or sabotage? Are your thoughts enabling self-sabotage or inspiring greater success?

Is this going to be an incredible day? What do you THINK?