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There are many books, tapes, workshops and seminars available that are focused on various aspects of personal development - from basic attitude adjustment to spiritual enlightenment. A close look will reveal that they all have a common thread. They all deal, in some fashion, with thought.

Whether it's goal setting, positive thinking, meditation, imagery or mind control, a discussion about thought enters the picture. Have you ever wondered why so much emphasis is placed on thought? What is it about thought that draws so much attention?

The answer lies in the fact that thought is the basic element of all creation. Thoughts don't exist just between our ears with total privacy. They are quite public. Our thoughts exist as tiny packets of energy called thought forms. Thought forms arc real. And, they exist to carry out the intent of the thinker. They do this by attracting to themselves similar thoughtforms.

We are not consciously aware of thought forms because they operate in a range that is beyond the capability of our human senses. They are, however, in the space all around us. We are all like individual radio stations radiating our desires, both positive and negative, into the universe for fulfillment.

It's All About Beliefs

The thoughts that we accept as being true become our beliefs. And, the accumulation of our individual beliefs makes up our own personal belief system. We all have beliefs about many things: money, jobs, relationships, ourselves, friends, life, politics, men, women, sex, what's right, and what's wrong - to name a few.

Our beliefs, just like thoughts, exist as thoughtforms. They exist to create situations, circumstances and events to reflect back to us (the believer) what we really believe. You see, the experiences that we each have come from our individual beliefs (those thoughts that we accept as being true). What we believe is what we experience.

No more - no less. And, to change our experiences we must change our beliefs.

"How can that be?" you ask. Well, in simplistic terms, we are like magnets that attract to us experiences that match our energy pattern - the energy pattern created by our beliefs. We each have an energy signature that defines our uniqueness, not unlike our handwritten signature. Have you ever noticed that when you meet someone for the first time, you feel comfortable with some people and some you don't? You're sensing their energy field. The ones that you feel comfortable with will most likely have similar beliefs. Trust your feelings.

The philosophy of having a positive attitude (positive thoughts and beliefs) derives from the mechanics of thought. Being positive is not just the appropriate thing to do to make yourself more socially acceptable.

It literally puts you in touch with positive life experiences. It's important to understand this. Your state of being is what creates your experiences. What you believe is what you experience.

If you believe life is a struggle, guess what you will experience. Not because that's the way life is, but because you believe it to be that way. Therefore, you will attract situations to confirm your belief. Do you know people that don't struggle through life? Would they believe life is a struggle? What do you think they believe about life?

If you believe that your boss is unfair, that's how he/she will show up for you. If you believe that you are poor, circumstances will prevail to keep you that way.

Beliefs Create Experiences

Let's try a simple exercise to illustrate the point that your beliefs create your experiences. Think of someone in your life that you know well and you don't like. Concentrate, for a moment, on what it is about that person that disturbs you.

Make a mental note of how thinking about them makes you feel. Intensify the feeling. Next, make a list of as many positive attributes as you can think of that fit that person.

Make a new mental note of your feelings toward that person now. Close your eyes and feel it deeply. What happened? Your feelings shifted, didn't they. Why? Because, by focusing on the other person's positive attributes, you generated a completely different array of thoughts for yourself.

So you see, it's your thoughts that determine how you experience someone else. It's you who are responsible for your experience of others. Not them. Go back to focusing on your initial judgment of that person. Your uncomfortable feelings returned, right? How would you like to experience that person in the future? It's your choice, isn't it?

It might be easier to see my point by observing someone else's situation first. Choose someone that you know well and ask yourself, "What would they have to believe to experience what they are experiencing?" Spend a few moments and think of several possible beliefs for the experience you selected. If you are having difficulty, here are some examples that might help you get started.

What would a person have to believe who is chronically dieting all the time? Would "I have a hard time losing weight" be a possibility? Can you think of any other belief that might create the same experience? Sure, "My entire family is heavy," would be a good one. Can you think of any others?

Apply this same line of questioning to other aspects of their life such as finances, relationships, or job satisfaction. It's quite revealing, isn't it?

Now rustle up some courage and ask yourself the same question about something in your life that you would prefer not to experience. "What would I have to believe to experience X?" When you uncover the belief, ask yourself, "Why do I believe it?" Is your belief true? Is there another viewpoint that would give you a different experience? What is it? Note what happens (what you experience)

Master Your Beliefs

When you realize that it's your thoughts and beliefs that determine what you experience, you're on your way to having some mastery over your life. Just make sure that your beliefs are in alignment with the experiences that you wish to have. Believing that you don't have enough money is not in alignment with creating prosperity -- believing that you have everything you need, is.

Keep your energy positive, be in alignment with your desires and enjoy each day. Each day is as nice as you believe it to be.

The above article was excerpted with permission from the book:

Before You Think Another Thought
by Bruce I. Doyle.

Published by Rare Shares Limited, 5415 Lake Howell Road #293C, Winter Park, FL 32792. ©1994.

Click here for more info and/or to order this book on Amazon.

About The Author

Bruce I. Doyle, III, Ph.D. has over 25 years of experience as a corporate executive and business consultant and has BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Bruce is dedicated to helping individuals and organizations achieve their full potential through the realization that their beliefs create their experiences. Bruce is also very interested in how the Indigos will impact our future - especially in the workplace. His forthcoming book, Indigos in the Workplace: Paving the Way for Tomorrow’s Leaders, will be released in 2011. Visit his website at www.indigoexecutive.com.

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