The power of words...

Words are indeed very powerful. Words can...
Uplift
Support
Hurt
Convey
Reinforce
....and the list goes on and on

Your word choices reinforce your thoughts, whether the words are true or false, positive or negative. Your thoughts directly influence your emotions and behaviors. Hence, the words you choose to speak, write, hear, and read will most definitely impact your life.

So why use debilitating words or allow them into your life? Instead, choose to speak, write, hear, and read only positive words that uplift yourself and others.

You have the power to choose the words you use. And you also have the power to choose the words you allow into your head. Be very selective, and choose your words wisely.

Humans are truly special beings. We have the awesome ability to create all kinds of things. We can think of something, envision it, plan it, and take action. With repeated effort, the figment of our imagination comes to be.

And to top it off, we are simply born with this creative ability. We did not have to work for it. We did not have to buy it. We did not have to get a degree in order to use it. Instead, our creativity is a God-given, innate ability harboring inside all of us.

No matter what it is you want to create in life, there are four general steps in the process (TEPA):

1. Think
2. Envision
3. Plan
4. Act

The first step is to take time to think about something. Everything begins with a thought, so we must therefore hold our thoughts sacred. Take time to nourish your thoughts and capture them before they move on.

The second step is to envision your thoughts. Develop a clear picture in your mind what your desired outcome looks like. Even go beyond and imagine what it feels like, smells like, tastes like, etc. The more detail you can add to your vision, the better.

The third step is to develop a plan of action. Start talking about it, writing about it, drawing it, conceptualizing it, etc. Personally, the process of manually putting ink to paper is the most useful for me. Holding an ink pen in my hand, drawing, outlining, and writing is when my visions begin to magically come to life. Once they are on paper, I know in my heart they are achievable with the proper action and persistence.

The fourth step is sometimes the hardest, but it is absolutely fundamental to making your thoughts become a reality. You must take action! Yes, you must take persistent, positive action according to your plan.

If you consistently repeat these four steps, you will create an abundant and exciting life for yourself. You will undoubtedly encounter obstacles along the way, but unwavering persistence will eventually cause the flowers of creativity to bloom into being. It is your gift to create what flowers you desire in your life.

Successful people learn how to peacefully endure adverse conditions. This ability is a conditioned state of mind that must be practiced and acquired over time. One must learn to accept and be at peace with failure, criticism, rejection, and imperfection. Patient endurance brings wisdom, strength of mind, and strength of spirit.

Learn to recognize the array of feelings associated with adversarial conditions and conquer them with rational thinking. First and foremost, adverse conditions are temporary in nature. Objectively step back, observe, and see adversarial situations for what they are; simply temporary conditions that will not continue forever. They are like storm clouds in the sky. Winds may blow, thunder may roar, and lightning may strike, but eventually sunshine will appear after the storm blows through.

Second, such conditions are not nearly as influential on your overall life as you may momentarily think. If not controlled, our minds tend to ruminate and make much more of a situation than what the situation truly deserves. In the grand scheme of life, chances are whatever you are enduring now will be insignificant in the future. You will live to see another day and be stronger for it.

Third, such obstacles are necessary stepping stones in your quest for growth and success. There is not one single successful person in history who has been fortunate enough to avoid obstacles and adversaries. Even Jesus Christ had to endure enemies, naysayers, and tough conditions during his time on earth. So do not be surprised by adversarial situations in your life. Come to view each one as a learning experience that will make you a better person moving forward.

In summary, learning to find inner peace during challenging times is the hallmark of true leader, and a secret to long term success. Extinguishing negative thoughts and emotions is a skill that must be honed deliberately over time. Never give up, and remember that true peace lies within each of us. It is up to us to seek it out, remember how to return to it, and rejoice in it each and every time we do.