Cultivating Positive Thoughts

How and why do we believe what we believe? How do we arrive at our underlying set of beliefs, attitudes, assumptions and prejudices? Who planted the information in our minds? Was the information nurturing or toxic? What did we hear, see or experience that established our life’s action patterns? Examine the process to determine if an accepted truth is actually true. A distant memory may need to be pulled out, much like removing weeds in a physical garden. Whatever you plant in your subconscious and nourish with conviction and emotion will one day become a reality. What you think about you bring about. Beliefs and character influence thinking, determine actions and our ability to enjoy daily encounters with others.nnChanging Thoughts and Actions Repeat something often enough and it becomes you. Change your thoughts and your actions will change. Change your actions and your character will change. What you impress upon your mind, you'll inevitably become. Positive self-suggestion and attitude will overcome negative thinking and a pattern of defeat. All living things want to reach their full potential. You can’t tell a tomato seed how to grow. You job is to water and weed and get out of the way. Not all soil will be fertile and the weather may no be the best, but with even the barest essentials, growth will occur. The seed instinctively knows its destiny is to develop the best tomato plant possible. The tomato will do what it was created to do.nnnGarden of the Mind The mind is a garden; a fertile field just waiting for you to plant the crops that will feed life’s jou ey. Seeds go in a garden. Words, phrases and beliefs planted in your mind become a part of who you are and what you will become. Plant a bean and harvest multiple beans. It is the same in your mind. Planting negative thoughts and beliefs will produce a negative life crop. Plant positive beliefs and attitudes for a crop rich in life’s possibilities to feed our minds and hearts and nourish our children.

"When you sow an action, you reap a habit; when you sow a habit, you reap a character; and when you sow a character, you reap a destiny." -Zig Ziglar

Teachers help children grow to their full potential I love to work with teachers because they are our children’s gardeners helping to cultivate self-concepts, beliefs and opinions. Your children look to you as a role model, which makes each of you a special teacher-gardener. Responsible role models have learned there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Sharing wisdom gained in life’s garden is a great way to cultivate a future for your children.n