Let’s have a look at how our thoughts hold us captive and sabotage both our health and wealth:

1. If this is a total revelation to you, then look back and see where the thoughts originated. Were they implanted by family members, teachers, church leaders, or fear?

* Repetition of thoughts can translate into infallible truths in your belief system, whether true or false.

2. Were these individuals financially blessed? Could they have been the products of wrong teaching and/or fear themselves?

* “Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat..” Lu. 12:22. The Lord is our Provider. He does not want us to worry and fear.

3. Whenever an opportunity came your way to invest, did you listen to the negative voices in your head - thoughts of fear of losing?

* It is good to be quiet and hear the still voice that says: You can do it; you’re capable; you are worthy to want more in your life. Don’t be afraid to heed wise counsel.Can you do something about changing your belief system and results? Absolutely! Study His Word, believe it, and ask His guidance in everything you do.

- Words are powerful! Consider this: God spoke the universe into being! His Word is all powerful. It is the implementation of His thoughts. We speak substance to our thoughts! When we speak negatively, whether in jest or an expression, we give power to those words as we declare them as truth. Conversely, as we voice our needs, they will manifest themselves! The more we speak good things over our lives, the more we believe them and reach out for them in expectation!

- Choose not to entertain all the negative news coming your way! Yes, you can choose to replace it with positive thoughts and words. You can direct your destiny with how you think and what you say!

So, in summary, let’s do a couple of short exercises.

1. You’ve just had your 15-minute coffee break with all the office personnel complaining about their salaries and working conditions. How does that make you feel?

2. You poured your cup of coffee, assessed the negative atmosphere, said a cheery hello, and exited. On your way back to the office you say to yourself: “I love my cheery office with the sun streaming in and my colleagues are a great gang. My salary is commensurate with the type of work I’m doing, even though I need and would love to make more. How do you feel?

In the first scenario everyone present tends to enter into a mental and/or spoken agreement culminating in frustration and dissatisfaction. This can affect them for hours or days, and usually includes feelings of blame towards their employer.

People who think negatively tend to blame their problems on others and feel victimized - even if they were. They tend to live in the past.

In the second case you took control of a situation, chose to keep a happy and peaceful disposition, and probably ended up with thoughts like: “What can I do to improve my income?” And, you know, in that frame of mind you might even come up with some great ideas, such as networking and starting your own niche business!

Those who make a conscious choice to be happy and look at the positive, look inward first, see what they can do to improve their situation, and look for solutions. They live in the now. That’s where the power is; and they speak their future into being!

Ann Stewart is the author of “With Wings As Eagles,” An autobiographical account, it motivates, inspires and encourages others to stand victoriously in their trials.
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http://www.lifealteringwords.com

Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 19, 2003

I’m currently in the classic older man and younger woman relationship. I’m 50 years old, Nancy is 30, and we are both divorced. I was not looking for anyone when Nancy came into my life. She is beautiful and sweet, and I absolutely adore her.

I could think of a million reasons why it doesn’t make sense to have a relationship with a younger woman. But she doesn’t feel that way at all. So why am I writing? At this juncture in my life I simply can’t see this relationship in the long term.

I have told Nancy not to waste time with someone like me; I have far less life to live than she does. She insists I have plenty of time left, though I cannot see where this could possibly go and be good for both of us. Am I simply sounding like some insecure, middle-aged idiot, or should I enjoy what we have and see where it leads?

Simon

Simon, if you know something in your own heart that prevents this, or if there is an issue you haven’t resolved, such as having children, that’s one thing. But if it’s simply the idea of the years, the years don’t matter.

To suggest the difference in age is the problem implies being close in age would guarantee success. But that is not true. Almost half the couples in the United States divorce, and most of them are close in age.

It is love that is the center of everything, not the number of years since your birth. It is love which creates alignment and balance between two people. What matters is that you love each other and belong together. In addition, there is no guarantee Nancy will outlive you.

Being an insecure, middle-aged idiot is no fun, so we suggest that you enjoy what you have and see where it leads.

Wayne & Tamara

Free Will

My story is like most others. All the signs were there, but for some reason I wanted to believe the lies.

My former boyfriend met his ex-wife behind my back. I also suspected an affair with his boss. That thought nagged me. So one night when he was away I looked up her address and drove there. Lo and behold! His car was parked in her driveway at four in the morning. He said he left it there for convenience while he went out with friends for the night.

I guess the question you get most is why. But I don’t want to know why he did these things, but why did I stay with someone who would cheat on me? Why would I want to believe the lies so much I went against my own logic?

Tiffany

Tiffany, if you are less than 70 years old, you have been raised all your life to believe we can make any relationship work with the right amount of hard work, compromise, and communication. That is what the “experts” claim. It isn’t true.

The end result of believing every relationship can be worked on and worked through is there aren’t any warning signs anymore. It is like saying since medical people can effectively treat burns, you no longer need to remove your hand from a hot stove.

You wanted a loving, monogamous relationship. That is who you are. He wanted to play the field and be intimate with whoever he wanted. That is who he is. Neither of you had the ability or the right to change the other. You tried to apply what you desired in a relationship, and what the “experts” claim is possible, to the man you had. It didn’t work.

At the time you couldn’t see there could be someone else for you who would be loving and monogamous. That is where you needed to go because no one has the power to change the behavior of another.

Wayne & Tamara

About The Author

Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com.

Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com.

Learning To Be In The Moment

Imagine thinking clearly, and feeling relaxed at will. Could you get more done? Enjoy life more? Would you like to know how to do that right now? Start by learning how to put yourself more in the moment with a simple mindfulness exercise.

Basic Mindfulness Exercises

A basic mindfulness exercise begins with sitting down, relaxing and breathing deeply. Close your eyes and pay attention to your breathing, following the breath in and out a few times. Then move your attention to your body, one part at a time, noticing any sensations of cold, hot, tight, sore or anything you can identify. After a few minutes, start listening to the sounds of the room, without judging, criticising or thinking about them. Just listen for a minute.

Open your eyes and look around as if seeing for the first time. Rest your eyes on any object for half a minute. Examine it without talking about it in your mind. Repeat this with another object, and then another, while still maintaining an awareness of your body and breath. Continue this state of mindfulness until you’re ready to get up.

When sensing your body, your breath, and your immediate surroundings, you are more fully “in the moment.” A mindfulness exercise like this puts your mind in a receptive state while removing mental distractions that hinder clear thinking. It leaves you ready to work mentally. Do this before important mental tasks and you’ll find you have more focus and concentration.

Using Mindfulness For Daily Life

When you’re in the middle of a task and feel stressed, stop. Take three deep breaths, then carefully watch yourself until identify what is bothering you. Find everything you can. Are you expecting something bad to happen? Is an argument from this morning still going on just below the surface of your consciousness? Are you worried about something? Is some part of your body in pain? Note everything you find.

Now deal with these thieves-of-concentration one by one. Make the phone call that’s on your mind, take an aspirin if you need to, and apologise to someone if necessary. Take things from your mind and put them on a list for tomorrow (in writing). If all you can do is acknowledge that there’s nothing you can do right now - do that. After doing this mindfulness exercise, you’ll feel less stressed, and you’ll be able to concentrate more effectively on the tasks at hand. Try it now.

Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over twenty years. You can visit his website, and subscribe to The Meditation Newsletter at: http://www.TheMeditationSite.com/newsletter.html