As long as you know what it is you desire, then by simply affirming that it is yours — firmly and positively, with no ifs, buts, or maybes — over and over again, from the minute you arise in the morning until the time you go to sleep at night, and as many times during the day as your work or activities permit, you will be drawn to those people, places, and events that will bring your desires to you. –Scott Reed
Throughout every age in time, people have made the general statement, “In these trying times …” You can use your imagination to finish the rest. It is impossible to find a job. The cost of living steadily increases while wages are either stagnant or minimal, especially in comparison to a few years back. Food is expensive, and families are struggling to eat. Gas prices are high. In these trying times…it’s hard to stay positive!
I have always been a glass-half-full kind of person. I even won a writing contest sponsored by the Optimist Club (several years ago). It was not and is not always easy to remain positive; I am human after all. We all have our weak moments. I am fortunate in that my mom instilled in me the power of belief. If you can believe it, you can achieve it. As cliché as is the old saying, it is also very much the truth. Belief in a positive outcome may not always yield a positive result, but it is most certainly better than the alternative—presuming the worst.
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“I can’t do it.”
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“Things never seem to work out for me.”
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“Life is just not going my way.”
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“Some people have all the luck, but never me.”
Have you ever uttered these statements to yourself hoping against all hope that you would be wrong in your negative assertions? Despite your desire to experience better, you are left in the dismal situation to which you feel you are preordained. Call it what you will, but I would call this a self-fulfilling prophecy. Speaking negativity into existence will only attract negativity to your life. Defeat your natural inclination toward a negative outcome by thinking positively—do this often enough and you will be amazed by your positive outcomes.
Mark 11:24 reads: “whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Even one who lives outside of Christian faith can take away the core message delivered by this passage: believe it and it will be yours. To believe in something is to make it true, to qualify its validity in the mind. There is immense power in the mind–power beyond what most people are willing to acknowledge. If we are respectful of our minds and the power it boasts, we are able to make a conscious effort to overcome the turbulent times in our lives, which in turn help us to appreciate the good times. Conscious positive thoughts, as opposed to overbearing, negative thoughts will always lead to a better mental and emotional place.
The next time you’re inclined to think negatively, try repeating positive affirmations. Say to yourself,
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“I can do anything that I set my mind to.”
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“Things will always work out for me, even if I don’t know how.”
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“Life is going my way.”
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“Some people have all the luck, and that includes me.”
You’ll be amazed at how far a little positivity will go toward helping you live a fulfilled and healthy life.
This article is intended for general education purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional counseling or medical care. If you are interested in seeking professional counseling, please call The Stone Foundation at 410-296-2004.
Melissa Brooks-Cuffee holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from Towson University: one in Psychology, the other in English. She has sustained memberships with both the Psi Chi and Lambda Iota Tau honor fraternities, and is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore. Melissa also volunteers with E-buddies–a program of Best Buddies International.
Over the last several years, Melissa has assumed various administrative roles within the healthcare and mental healthcare field. She demonstrates her strong desire to help those in need by offering quality care and compassion to the population she so fervently serves. At present, Melissa maintains the positions of Administrative Assistant and Online Marketing Specialist at The Stone Foundation. She is also a featured writer for The Weekly Wisdom Online Publication and manages all social media communities for The Stone Foundation.Facebook Page