Did you ever read The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale?
Peale is considered the father of positive thinking and he is one of the most widely read inspirational writers of all time. Millions of people have taken his famous formula of faith and optimism as their philosophy of living.
One of Peale’s inspirational stories is about a time when he was heading off to speak to a group of 5,000 people. He had been on a plane all day long and his vocal cords had tightened up.
As he got off the plane and went to get his luggage and ask for help to get a taxi, he noticed that he hardly had any voice at all and he was scheduled to speak in about four hours.
During the taxi ride to the hotel, his voice went from a low hoarseness down to barely a whisper, and he began to worry what was going to happen when it was time to speak that night.
After arriving at the hotel, he gargled and he prayed, but at the same time, he was thinking, “my gosh, 5,000 people are going to be here tonight. Maybe I could whisper louder.” He was trying to figure out what to do.
Finally he asked the hotel to send a doctor, and when the doctor got there, Peale could barely whisper, “I need some help. I need some help. Bring me some medicine. Spray my throat. I’m supposed to speak to 5,000 people tonight,”
The doctor sprayed his throat, gave him some medicine, and then said to him, “Dr. Peale, I have sprayed your throat. I have given you some pills, but now I would like to give you the same treatment that you have given the rest of us. I want to give you the treatment that will really help you.”
And Peale said, “Well, why are you waiting?”
And the Doctor said, “Because I didn’t think I would have to give it to you.”
What do you mean?”
“You’re the one who taught me about the power of the will. You taught me that the prescription is to take my mind off the problem and put it on the image of what I want to create.
Take your mind off your vocal cords. Put it on the mind of God. Put it on the mind of the Infinite. Put it on the mind that has the perfect idea of you.”
When Peale wrote about this story, he said, “It was like a bolt of lightning hit me. I had spent all these hours focusing on the problem, focusing on how it would be if I couldn’t speak, focusing on ‘could I whisper louder?’ I was focusing on the problem, and the answer was to take my mind off the problem and put it on the answer. Put it on the Power that is everywhere present, that has a perfect idea of me in it.”
Have you ever found yourself doing that? I know I have. It’s so easy to slip into that thought pattern isn’t it? Especially with health issues where there is restricted movement or pain. It’s so “in your face” that it’s hard to ignore.
Using your mind for physical healing is an advanced skill for sure but it does work.
Another example of “mind over matter” is what’s called “the power of the placebo. Many people get healed from fake medicines and treatments because they believe it will work and they imagine themselves healed.
Yes, indeed, the mind is a powerful creator! That’s the reason it’s so important to keep noticing what it’s up to and direct it to focus on the things you desire.
As I shared last week, instead of using willpower to force changes, you can use the power of your will to take your mind OFF what looks like the circumstances, situations and issues and put yourself INTO the life you’re imagining.
Walk around inside that vision. Feel it. That person who’s living that life you’re imagining does some of the same things you’re doing now. She drives a car. She may do some laundry. She may do some dishes. She may make phone calls. Imagine being that person in your vision. As you keep focusing on that picture in your mind of the life you truly love, you will notice things really beginning to shift.
I know you can do this! Have fun with it!
I’m eager to hear about your results! Share in the comments.
Here’s to the power of positive thinking and creating a life you absolutely love!
Mardi
P.S. Research has documented the probabilities of completing our goals:
- Having an idea or goal: 10% likely to complete the goal
- Consciously deciding that you will do it: 25%
- Deciding when you will do it: 40%
- Planning how to do it: 50%
- Committing to someone that you will do it: 65%
- Having a specific accountability appointment with someone you’ve committed to: 95%
If you are ready to commit to yourself and your dreams, CLICK HERE to learn more about the DreamBuilder Coaching Program.