Life is very beautiful! Enjoy it!

Today is a new day.

Today is a day for you to begin creating a joyous, fulfilling life. Today is the day to begin to release all your limitations. Today is the day for you to learn the secrets of life. You can change your life for the better. You already have the tools within you to do so. These tools are your thoughts and your beliefs. In this book, I will teach you how to use these tools to improve the quality of your life.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the benefits of positive affirmations, I’d like to explain a little about them. An affirmation is really anything you say or think. A lot of what we normally say and think is quite negative and doesn’t create good experiences for us. We have to retrain our thinking and speaking into positive patterns if we want to change our lives.

An affirmation opens the door. It’s a beginning point on the path to change. In essence, you’re saying to your subconscious mind: “I am taking responsibility. I am aware that there is something I can do to change.” When I talk about doing affirmations, I mean consciously choosing words that will either help eliminate something from your life or help create something new in your life.

Every thought you think and every word you speak is an affirmation. All of our self-talk, our internal dialogue, is a stream of affirmations. You’re using affirmations every moment whether you know it or not. You’re affirming and creating your life experiences with every word and thought.

Your beliefs are merely habitual thinking patterns that you learned as a child. Many of them work very well for you. Other beliefs may be limiting your ability to create the very things you say you want. What you want and what you believe you deserve may be very different. You need to pay attention to your thoughts so that you can begin to eliminate the ones creating experiences you do not want in your life.

Please realize that every complaint is an affirmation of something you think you don’t want in your life. Every time you get angry, you’re affirming that you want more anger in your life. Every time you feel like a victim, you’re affirming that you want to continue to feel like a victim. If you feel that Life isn’t giving you what you want in your world, then it’s certain that you will never have the goodies that Life gives to others-that is, until you change the way you think and talk.

You’re not a bad person for thinking the way you do. You’ve just never learned how to think and talk. People throughout the world are just now beginning to learn that our thoughts create our experiences. Your parents probably didn’t know this so they couldn’t possibly teach it to you. They taught you how to look at life in the way that their parents taught them. So nobody is wrong. However, it’s time for all of us to wake up and begin to consciously create our lives in a way that pleases and supports us. You can do it. I can do it. We all can do it-we just need to learn how. So let’s get to it.

Throughout this book, I’ll talk about affirmations in general, and then I’ll get to specific areas of life and show you how to make positive changes in your health, your finances, your love life, and so on. This is a small book, because once you learn how to use affirmations, then you can apply the principles in all situations.

Some people say that “affirmations don’t work” (which is an affirmation in itself), when what they mean is that they don’t know how to use them correctly. They may say, “My prosperity is growing,” but then think, Oh, this is stupid, I know it won’t work. Which affirmation do you think will win out? The negative one, of course, because it’s part of a long-standing, habitual way of looking at life. Sometimes people will say their affirmations once a day and complain the rest of the time. It will take a long time for affirmations to work if they’re done that way. The complaining affirmations will always win, because there are more of them and they’re usually said with great feeling.

However, saying affirmations is only part of the process. What you do the rest of the day and night is even more important. The secrets to having your affirmations work quickly and consistently is to prepare an atmosphere for them to grow in. Affirmations are like seeds planted in soil. Poor soil, poor growth. Rich soil, abundant growth. The more you choose to think thoughts that make you feel good, the quicker the affirmations work.

So think happy thoughts, it’s that simple. And it is doable. The way you choose to think, right now, is just that-a choice. You may not realize it because you’ve thought this way for so long, but it really is a choice. Now . . . today . . . this moment . . . you can choose to change your thinking. Your life won’t turn around overnight, but if you’re consistent and make the choice on a daily basis to think thoughts that make you feel good, you’ll definitely make positive changes in every area of your life.

(I learned this secret from Esther Hicks/Abraham. Esther Hicks is a motivational speaker who dialogues with a group of spiritual teachers who call themselves Abraham. If you haven’t experienced the teacher Abraham, call 830/755-2299, or log on to www.Abraham-Hicks.com for information. I consider Abraham to be one of the best teachers on the planet today.)

I wake up each morning with blessings and gratitude for the wonderful life I lead, and I make the choice to think happy thoughts no matter what others are doing. No, I don’t do this 100 percent of the time, but I am up to about 75 or 80 percent right now, and it’s made a big difference in how much I enjoy life and how much good just seems to flow into my everyday world.

The only moment you ever live in is this moment. It’s the only time you have any control over. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present.” My yoga teacher, Maureen MacGinnis, repeats this in every class she teaches. If you don’t choose to feel good in this moment, then how can you create future moments that are abundant and fun?



* * *
How do you feel right now? Do you feel good? Do you feel bad? What are your current emotions? What is your gut feeling? Would you like to feel better? Then reach for a better feeling or thought. If you feel bad in any way-sad, grumpy, bitter, resentful, angry, fearful, guilty, depressed, jealous, critical, and so on-then you’ve temporarily lost your connection to the flow of good experiences that the Universe has waiting for you. Don’t waste your thoughts on blame. No person, place, or thing has any control over your feelings because they don’t think in your mind.

This is also why you really have no control over others-you see, you can’t control their thoughts. No one can control another unless that person gives permission. So you want to be aware of this powerful mind you have. You can take total control over your own thinking. It’s the only thing you’ll ever have total control of. What you choose to think is what you’ll get in life. I’ve chosen to think thoughts of joy and appreciation, and you can, too.

What kind of thoughts make you feel good? Thoughts of love, appreciation, gratitude, joyful childhood experiences? Thoughts in which you rejoice that you’re alive and bless your body with love? Do you truly enjoy this present moment and get excited about tomorrow? Thinking these kinds of thoughts is an act of loving yourself, and loving yourself creates miracles in your life.



* * *
Now let’s get to the affirmations. Doing affirmations is consciously choosing to think certain thoughts that will create positive results in the future. They create a focal point that will allow you to begin changing your thinking. Affirmative statements are going beyond the reality of the present into the creation of the future through the words you use in the now.

When you choose to say “I am very prosperous,” you may actually have very little money in the bank at the moment, but what you’re doing is planting seeds for future prosperity. Each time you repeat this statement, you’re reaffirming the seeds you’ve planted in the atmosphere of your mind. That’s why you want it to be a happy atmosphere. Things grow much quicker in fertile, rich soil.

It’s important for you to always say your affirmations in the present tense, and without contractions. (Although I use contractions throughout the running text of my books, I never use them in affirmations, since I don’t want to diminish their power.) For example, typical affirmations would start: “I have . . .” or “I am . . .” If you say, “I am going to . . .” or “I will have . . . ,” then your thought stays out there in the future. The Universe takes your thoughts and words very literally and gives you what you say you want. Always. This is another reason to maintain a happy mental atmosphere. It’s easier to think in positive affirmations when you feel good.

Think of it this way: Every thought you think counts, so don’t waste your precious thoughts. Every positive thought brings good into your life. Every negative thought pushes good away; it keeps it just out of your reach. How many times in your life have you almost gotten something good and it seemed to be snatched away at the last moment? If you could remember what your mental atmosphere was like at those times, you’d have the answer. Too many negative thoughts create a barrier against positive affirmations.

If you say, “I don’t want to be sick anymore,” this is not an affirmation for good health. You have to state clearly what you do want. “I accept perfect health now.” “I hate this car,” does not bring you a wonderful new car, because you’re not being clear. Even if you do get a new car, in a short time you’ll probably hate it, because that’s what you’ve been affirming. If you want a new car, then say something like this: “I have a beautiful new car that suits all of my needs.”

You’ll hear some people saying, “Life sucks!” (which is a terrible affirmation). Can you imagine what experiences that statement will attract to you? Of course, it isn’t Life that sucks, it’s your thinking that sucks. That thought will help you feel terrible. And when you feel terrible, no good can come into your life.

Don’t waste time arguing for your limitations: poor relationships, problems, illnesses, poverty, and so on. The more you talk about the problem, the more you anchor it in place. Don’t blame others for what’s seemingly wrong in your life-that’s just another waste of time. Remember, you’re under the laws of your own consciousness, your own thoughts, and you attract specific experiences to you as a result of the way you think.

When you change your thinking process, then everything in your life will also change. You’ll be amazed and delighted to see how people, places, things, and circumstances can change. Blame is just another negative affirmation, and you don’t want to waste your precious thoughts on it. Instead, learn to turn your negative affirmations around into positive ones. For instance:

I hate my body.
becomes
I love and appreciate my body.


I never have enough money.
becomes

Money flows into my life in an abundant way.


I’m tired of being sick.
becomes
I allow my body to return to its natural, vibrant health.


I’m too fat.
becomes
I honor my body and take good care of it.


Nobody loves me.
becomes
I radiate love, and love fills my life.


I’m not creative.
becomes
I am discovering talents I did not know I had.


I’m stuck in a lousy job.
becomes
Wonderful new doors are opening for me all the time.


I’m not good enough.
becomes
I am in the process of positive change, and I deserve the best.

This doesn’t mean that you have to be worried about every thought you think. When you first begin to make the change-over and really pay attention to your thoughts, you’ll be horrified to realize how negative much of your thinking has been. So when you catch a negative thought, just think to yourself, That is an old thought; I no longer choose to think that way. Then find a positive thought to replace it as quickly as you can. Remember, you want to feel good as much as possible. Thoughts of bitterness, resentment, blame, and guilt make you feel miserable. And that’s a habit you really want to release.

Another barrier to allowing positive affirmations to work is feeling “not good enough”-that is, you feel that you don’t deserve to have good in your life. If that’s your issue, then you could begin with Chapter 8 (Self-Esteem). You could see how many of the self-esteem affirmations you can memorize, and then repeat them often. Doing so will help change that “worthless” feeling you might be carrying around, to one of self-worth. Then watch your positive affirmations materialize.

Affirmations are solutions that will replace whatever problem you might have. Whenever you have a problem, repeat over and over:

“All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good.

“Out of this situation only good will come. I am safe.”

A Kind Word
What is the value of a kind word?
In January of 1986 I was flipping through the channels on TV and saw the closing credits for a PBS show called "Funny Business," a show about cartooning. I had always wanted to be a cartoonist but never knew how to go about it. I wrote to the host of the show, cartoonist Jack Cassady, and asked his advice on entering the profession.

A few weeks later I got an encouraging handwritten letter from Jack, answering all of my specific questions about materials and process. He went on to warn me about the likelihood of being rejected at first, advising me not to get discouraged if that happened. He said the cartoon samples I sent him were good and worthy of publication.

I got very excited, finally understanding how the whole process worked. I submitted my best cartoons to Playboy and New Yorker. The magazines quickly rejected me with cold little photocopied form letter. Discouraged, I put my art supplies in the closet and decided to forget about cartooning.

In June of 1987 -- out of the blue -- I got a second letter from Jack Cassady. This was surprising, since I hadn't even thanked him for the original advice. Here's what his letter said:

Dear Scott
I was reviewing my "Funny Business..." mail file when I again ran across your letter and copies of your cartoons. I remember answering your letter.

The reason I'm dropping you this note is to again encourage you to submit your ideas to various publications. I hope you have already done so and are on the road to making a few bucks and having some fun too.

Sometimes encouragement in the funny business of graphic humor is hard to come by. That's why I am encouraging you to hand in there and keep drawing.

I wish you lots of luck, sales and good drawing.

Sincerely

Jack

I was profoundly touched by his letter, largely I think because Jack had nothing to gain -- including my thanks, if history was any indication. I acted on his encouragement, dragged my art supplies out of storage and inked the sample strips that eventually became Dilbert. Now, seven hundred newspapers and six books later, things are going pretty well in Dilbertville.
I feel certain that I wouldn't have tried cartooning again if Jack hadn't sent the second letter. With a kind word and a postage stamp, he started a chain of events than reaches all the way to you right now. As Dilbert became more successful I came to appreciate the enormity of Jack's simple act of kindness. I did eventually thank him, but I could never shake the feeling that I had been given a gift which defied reciprocation. Somehow, "thanks" didn't seem to be enough.

Over time I have come to understand that some gifts are meant to be passed on, not repaid.

I expect at least a million people to read this newsletter. Each of you knows somebody who would benefit from a kind word. I'm encouraging you to act on it before the end of the year. For the biggest impact, do it in writing. And do it for somebody who knows you have nothing to gain.

It's important to give encouragement to family and friends, but their happiness and yours are inseparable. For the maximum velocity, I'm suggesting that you give your encouragement to someone who can't return the favor -- it's a distinction that won't be lost on the recipient.

And remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.


Have a great holiday. Thanks to all of you for giving me a spectacular year.
Scott Adams