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What To Do When You Run Into A Roadblock

No matter who you are, how old you are, or what you do, at times you face roadblocks or obstacles. We all do. In the future we will all face more roadblocks and obstacles; it’s just a part of life.

I think of obstacles as small interruptions or interferences, perhaps like a pot hole in the road.  Roadblocks are something much bigger; the road itself is closed.  Both interrupt our momentum, but how we respond to them is very important.

Do you handle the roadblocks and obstacles of life differently than you handle the roadblocks and obstacles on the road?  Have you ever thought of how you respond when the road you want to travel is blocked?  The answer of course is simple; you take the detour until you can get back headed to where you want to go, right?

With an obstacle in the road, whether it is a pot hole, or a stalled vehicle, we simply maneuver around it and proceed on our merry way.  There are also times when all traffic just stops temporarily.  We have no options to go anywhere and so we’re stuck. It can be a real lesson in patience, perhaps.

At times in life, things may stop and we need to be patient.  Other times there are obstacles we need to go around.  Then there are times we face real roadblocks preventing us from moving forward in the direction we want to go.

When things in life come to a temporary halt, some people get very irritated and impatient.  They expend all their energy in frustration and disgust.  They act just like some drivers do when all the traffic stops; those people are easily identified by their car horns blaring.

In life, when faced with obstacles, some people get upset because they have to change course slightly.  The obstacle forced them out of their comfort zone because things are not moving ahead smoothly without any hitches. Some people make the slight adjustment necessary, while others waste time and energy wondering how the obstacle got there, who’s responsible to move it and why it is still there.

Then at other times in life, we all experience roadblocks.  We can no longer continue on the path we are on.  On the journey of enjoying life today and planning for the future, downsizing and layoffs have presented many people with a huge roadblock.  While there are plenty of other situations equally equated with a roadblock, today this is one of the most common.

Don’t You Think It’s Silly?

Driving on the road, when faced with a roadblock, wouldn’t you think it silly for someone to turn around and go home because the road they want to take is blocked? And isn’t almost unheard of for someone to just sit there in front of the roadblock in disbelief and despair?  Yet, when it comes to roadblocks in life, that’s exactly what some people do.

When I lost my job of nearly 17 years back in 2008, being unemployed was a major roadblock; that avenue for income was now closed.  What was I to do?  Clearly I needed to find a new road, a different avenue for income.

What I didn’t do was spend my time and energy wondering why it happened. I never do that while driving, so why do it on the road of life?  I chose to not be bitter or resentful, although that took a little bit of mental effort and shifting.  I also refused to attend pity parties with others in the same plight.

I have heard people over the years, who have lost their jobs, exclaim, “Now I can collect all that unemployment money I have been paying all these years.”  First of all, the employee doesn’t pay unemployment tax, the government makes the employer pay it.  And secondly, how can anyone get excited about receiving a very, very small check every week instead of finding a new job?

It Helps, But…

Yes, of course getting an unemployment check can help while searching for a new avenue for employment.  It helps; it helped me for a few weeks.  But to rely on it and hope it continues indefinitely is like keeping your car parked in front of a road block; it doesn’t solve the problem.

I am not being critical, nor am I unaware of current conditions. I know available jobs are not at a premium today.  But I also know, and am convinced, that regardless of the current economy, God is not out of business.

When you face a roadblock in your life, whatever it may be, waste no time and energy trying to figure out why it is happening to you.  Waste no energy being bitter and resentful.  Refuse to feel sorry for yourself.  These are all completely unproductive actions which do nothing to get you back on an open road.

Instead, admit and recognize it for what it is: it is a roadblock.  Every day pour your heart out to God, telling Him how you feel and asking Him for His help.  Then, take as much action as you possibly can, every day, keeping your eyes and ears open, expecting to find your new avenue.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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How Big?

Have you ever seen the big Sequoias in California’s Calaveras Big Tree State Park?  A couple of weeks ago Kathy and I saw them up close and personal.  Wow!

The park is located 3 miles north of Arnold, off Highway 4, in the Western Sierra Nevada’s.  “Big trees” is a bit of an understatement.  I would call them huge or gigantic.

The height these trees can reach is staggering.  Some grow as high as 325 feet tall.  But that is not as impressive as their diameter which can reach up to 33 feet!

On the mile and a half trail we were on, we had dozens of jaw dropping moments.  The last tree was the biggest jaw dropper of all.  It was so enormous that we actually walked through the tree!

I Thought About Something

Along the trail I had an interesting thought.  In my lifetime I have seen many big beautiful trees.  I’m sure you have too.  In fact, in my front yard, I have a very large pine tree.

But seeing these particular “big trees” made me think of how big our God is.  We all see trees everyday.  But, to me, this was like God saying, “If you think you’ve seen trees before, look at these trees I made!”

In the book of Isaiah it says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, is so much bigger than our minds can comprehend.  And He hasn’t lost any of His power and ability.  He is still God Almighty, and that is encouraging.

In our lives, you and I face obstacles that at times seem just too big for us to figure out.  We may even think there is no solution possible.  But our powerful God specializes in things we may call impossible.

We can feel encouraged to look to Him for help.  We can have confidence in His power and ability.  We can rely on His reliability.

Plenty Of Reminders

The Bible is full of situations that may have seemed insurmountable at the time.  But time and time again, God provided solutions, many times in a very big way.  He is still the same God today as He was in the Bible.

You may never have the opportunity to see the big Sequoias up close and personal.  But, there is still plenty of God’s handiwork you can see, both in nature and in the human body.  Let the work of the great Creator you see be a constant reminder of the awesome power, goodness, and bigness of God Almighty.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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Politics? Not Really

My main purpose for this blog has never been about politics, but rather to help others have more confidence in God so they can receive what He has promised. That being said, the USA is at a point where politics are indeed front and center, and will stay there until the November presidential election. Even if you are a casual listener to the news, you know it has been a pretty ugly campaign; it’s very possible the low blow rhetoric will get even worse.

Last week Tampa hosted the Republican National Convention, and this week the Democrats are in Charlotte for their week long festivities.  I heard there are around 1500 reporters covering these conventions.  Depending on what those reporters see and hear, and then depending on what their bosses dictate, they will continue with their reports this week. It is sad that true journalists are extremely rare these days, in fact they are almost extinct. [pic of donkey elephant]

So why even mention it here on this blog?  Where’s the inspiration?  Where’s the help in having more confidence in God?  Bear with me a minute, because, actually, that really is my point.

Divided

Our country is deeply divided.  The differences are much, much greater than thinking one man has a better solution to the problems we face than the other guy.  The division is an ideological one, about the proper role of government, which can really stir up emotions on both sides.

Personally, I am really more concerned about what shape our country will be in when my granddaughter, Ava, hits the job market in twenty years.  How much freedom will there be for her to pursue her dreams?  How much will she have to pay in taxes?  [pic of Ava backpack]

Because of the current conditions in both our country and around the world, and the constant rhetoric which continues to stir up emotions, people are putting a lot of confidence in their man.  I am very much in favor of exercising my right to vote, as well as praying for our leaders.  But I can not, nor will I ever put my complete confidence in a man, or a political party.

Obviously when I vote, it will be for the person I believe will do the best for our country now, and for the future.

Real Confidence

But the far superior confidence I live with each day is a reliance on One who is worth having confidence in, who has a proven record of consistent reliability, and who has, is, and will continue to keep His promises.  Putting your complete trust and confidence in anyone or anything above God, will certainly, sooner or later, bring disappointment.

And so, as I mentioned earlier, I will continue pray for our leaders, those in office today, and those who will be in office after the elections. I pray for God to give them wisdom and guidance And I pray for God to raise up men and women with integrity who will adhere to the Constitution of our country.

The problems we face today are serious.  They didn’t happen over night and will not be rectified in a few days.  That’s why I also pray and ask God to intervene in our affairs and help this nation.  But, regardless of what the future holds, I remain confident that God is big enough to personally and individually help, guide, protect and direct all those who call upon Him, and believe and trust Him.

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The Good Ol’ Days?

Some dear friends of ours visited us this past week.  We had fun spending time together.  And, yes, we probably ate too much and went to sleep later than normal, but isn’t that what usually happens when people visit?  The four of us certainly had no complaints.

One of the highlights for me was Wednesday night out on the patio.  First, it was a blessing just to be able sit out on the patio in late August.  Daytime temperatures the week before were around 115 degrees, and still very warm after sunset. But this past week we were blessed with rain and some unusually cooler temperatures.

The four of us sat talking for about 2 hours about a number of past events.  I know some people think that reminiscing about the past is just trying to live back in the “good ol’ days,” when everything was so much better.  I understand that the “good ol’ days,” as well as the “bad ol’ days,” are indeed in the past. You can’t go back and live in the past and you can’t live in the future; so I choose to live in the present.

What We Talked About

But this particular conversation was not about how good certain things were in the past, or wishing we were there, or feeling sorry for ourselves.  Rather, we were recounting events about God: things that God did for each us, and mostly things that He did in a very remarkable fashion.

It was inspiring to reminisce about how God had done things for each of us in a very personal way, and so many times in a way that we would have never guessed.  We experienced blessings, miracles and deliverance.

For example, how does one drive in the middle of the night for four hours with the gas tank on empty?  (The widow woman in the Bible with only a handful of meal that lasted over a year would understand.) How is it possible to be healed of an incurable disease? (The man born blind could certainly relate!)

What Hasn’t Changed?

The times have changed for all of us, in one way or another.  Perhaps there is a time in your life that you look back on with very fond memories, and maybe even wish things could be like they used to be. Those days are long gone, and some people try to reconstruct those “good ol’ days,” but it never really is the same. The times, the people, and the situations have changed.

But one thing hasn’t changed, and never will change.  God is a constant that you can always depend upon.  He has not and will not change.

His ability and His willingness to help, bless and deliver has not diminished.  He has lost none of His power.  And, nothing can separate you from His love.

As I mentioned, our conversation last Wednesday night was inspiring.  We basically reminded ourselves of how great and wonderful our God is.  It was encouraging to all four of us to continue to trust God regardless of the days and times we are living in.

And although we shared some of our favorite incidents from the past, special blessings had happened to us last week as well.  Our God is still a God of power and might, and He loves each one of us unconditionally.

Years from now the times we are living in today will become the “old days.”  Our trust and confidence in God today will determine whether they become the “bad ol’ days,” or the “good ol’ days.”  And when that time comes, we can choose to trust God and start the cycle all over again.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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Do You Blog?

Special Message For Bloggers

Lots of people these days have a blog.  I’m sure many visitors to this site are into blogging, for fun or profit.

If you’re looking for step by step guidance on how to build your blog and/or turn it into an online business, you should definitely check this out.

I have learned a lot about blogging from Gideon Shalwick, and now he and Yaro Starak, and Leslie Samuel are offering a great course: Become A Blogger.

Very limited time left to get in – Friday at 8PM EST to be exact.  Go to this link and check it out – it could very well be just what you are looking for to either start a blog, or, take yours to the next level.

Become A Blogger

https://oi106.infusionsoft.com/go/blogsecretsenroll/mikev

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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Break The Vicious Cycle of Discouragement And Defeat

Some people repeatedly endure a vicious cycle of defeat and discouragement.  If you have ever experienced this, then you know it is certainly no picnic.  This article will help you break the cycle of defeat and discouragement.

The vicious cycle goes something like this: “I know that God is able. I know what He promised. I really do believe that He will, but, you know, I just haven’t prayed as much as I should. I haven’t read the Bible enough; I haven’t been as loving as I should. I haven’t really done enough for Him lately…”

Praying, reading the Bible, and loving others are wonderful things you can do.  But, what are all of those things?  They are good works.

I am highly in favor of praying.  The same is true with reading the Bible, and loving others and doing good things.  But, they are all works.

Many Christians believe that being right and worthy in God’s eyes is dependent upon their actions: what they will do, or won’t do.  The more they do good or godly things, the more right and worthy they think they will be in God’s eyes.  And then of course, their prayers will be answered, right?

Hold On A Minute

Take a step back for a moment or two and consider a couple of things written in the Bible. You read in the scriptures that nothing that can separate you from God’s love. In other words, His love for you is unconditional.

His love for you does not change if you pray a little or if you pray a lot.  I know for some that almost sounds like blasphemy, but the scriptures proclaim that we simply cannot be separated from His love.  We love Him, the Bible says, because He first loved us, therefore our works do not affect His love for us.

And what about being right, or righteous in His eyes?  Our being made right in God’s eyes has nothing to do with our works, but rather it is from the completed work of Christ.  If we could, by our own works, make ourselves righteous then we would have never needed a savior.

You don’t become more righteous in God’s eyes if you read more of the Bible, and less righteous if you don’t read the Bible, because as a Christian you have already been made righteous.  God sees you as His righteous child and nothing will ever separate you from His love. Nothing.

Yes, it’s great to do things that enhance your spiritual growth and walk. But you must remember none of those things will make you more acceptable in His sight. The Bible says that you already are holy and accepted.

The Cycle

Now here’s how that cycle of defeat and discouragement happens.   Someone does a lot of good things, and then, because of all their good works, they feel really right in God’s eyes.  They go to sleep that night with a lot of confidence, knowing that God really loves them.

But what happens the next day when they don’t do as much as they did the day before?  Maybe they didn’t pray as much, or even read the Bible at all.  At the end of the day they realize that they didn’t do as much as they did the day before, which leads to discouragement.

So the next day, they try even harder. But how can you or I ever do enough good things to make us right in God’s eyes and deserving of His unending love?  To even think that we could come close is pretty egotistical when you stop and think about it, isn’t it?

And what happens when you have a bad day?  On the days when you mess up and really fall short, it’s very easy to feel condemned and discouraged.  At that point many feel they need to try to “pay for what they have done wrong,” by again, doing more works.

It becomes nothing but a vicious cycle of defeat and discouragement.  But when you really think about it logically, if you are doing works to be right in God’s eyes and to be worthy of receiving his promises, just how much would you really have to do in order to arrive at that point?

What is it that we could do, or refrain from doing, that would earn His love and His willingness to provide what He has promised?

Break Free!

Here’s a suggestion that will really help you end the vicious cycle of defeat and discouragement.  Why not just believe what the Bible says and accept God’s unconditional love for you.  Believe that you already are righteous in His eyes!  No, you didn’t earn it, and neither did I, but we both can decide to accept and believe it, and say, “thank you.”

Getting to that place will have a great impact on your life.  Your confidence in God to fulfill His promises to you will increase because you are no longer doing good works to make yourself loved and right in His eyes.  Instead, you will be doing good works out of gratitude for what He has done for you.

It will make a dynamic impact on your self esteem and self image, because you will be free of sin consciousness and condemnation, knowing Jesus Christ paid the price for your sins and there is no more price to be paid.

It may take a little time to put off the old way of thinking, and put on the new.  But it is well worth the effort.  When you do, it will really help you to accept that He is not only able to do for you what He has promised, but that He is also willing to do for you what He has promised, because you are right in His sight, and He loves you unconditionally.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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30 Years

It was a muggy night in Ohio, 30 years ago today.  That evening I  saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen, similar to the picture below.

Two years ago, on August 11th, I posted, A Special Day, on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of my ordination to the Christian ministry.  I mentioned on that post that my certificate reads, “a minister of the Gospel of Deliverance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”  The English word “minister” in the New Testament comes from the Greek word that means “to serve.”  “Gospel” means “good news.”

Today marks 30 years, and I continue to do my best to serve the good news concerning Jesus Christ that brings deliverance.  Thank you for visiting this blog and allowing me to serve you some good news.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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How to Get the Results You Desire

The choices you have made and the actions you have taken have produced the results that you see in your life right now. A lot of people might totally disagree with that statement, but I believe it is very true.  Your results are directly produced by the decisions that you have made.

I understand that we are living in an, “it’s not my fault” society.  Today, very few people take responsibility for their own actions.  And, if you listen to what some people say, you might think that we are all victims!

But the truth of the matter is that the results in our own lives are because of our own choices and actions.  We make a decision.  We choose a particular course or action and then we reap the results.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

Here’s an illustration.  Let’s say you find yourself one beautiful summer afternoon sitting in a stadium enjoying a baseball game.  How did you arrive at that particular result in your life?  Did you go to sleep the night before and then just wake up sitting in the stands, cheering for your team?

Well, of course not.  Somewhere along the line, you thought about going to a baseball game.  Then, you eventually made a decision to go to the game.  Just what got you to the point of making that decision?  Your feelings did.

At some point, you began to think about going to a baseball game.  If you’re like I am, and really like baseball, going to a baseball game is a happy pleasant thought.   But, just having a quick thought about going to a baseball game usually will not yield the result of actually going to that game.

I have not gone to a game this year.  Yet, plenty of times I’ve had a quick thought like, “One of these days I’m going to go the stadium and watch a game.” But then, that thought is quickly gone, replaced by some other thoughts.

However, if you really start to think about something for more than just a second or two, you will get some feelings about those thoughts. Try it out.  If you don’t really like baseball, think about going somewhere that you’d really enjoy.  It might be to the ocean, the mountains, fishing or whatever.  Stop for a few minutes and really picture it in your mind.

Thinking about something very pleasant to you will produce pleasant feelings.  That’s because feelings are a result of thoughts. That is how the Creator designed us.  So, if you have lousy thoughts, then guess what?  You are going to have lousy feelings.  If you have pleasant thoughts, then those thoughts will produce pleasant feelings.

Your Results

What does all that have to do with the results in your life?  It has a lot to do with it.  Our feelings so many times play a big roll in our decision-making and subsequent actions.

Our feelings lead to decisions and actions.  These actions bring results in our lives.  That’s why I said, “The results in your life are because of your own choices and actions.”

And here’s the good news!   If you don’t like the results that you are getting in your life, realize it is because of your choices and actions.  Understand that choices and actions are a result of your feelings.  And, your feelings are a product of your own thoughts. So, if you really want to see a change in the results, start by changing your thoughts.

Choose what you are going to think about, and choose what you are not going to think about. Focus on your desires, not on your shortcomings, lack or failures.  Recognize the thoughts you have that are contrary to what God has promised you in the Scriptures; consciously put those thoughts out, and replace them with the promises.

Thoughts of failure will produce feelings of failure.  Feelings of failure will result in decisions and actions that will bring more failure results into your life.

Thoughts of success will produce feelings of success.  Feelings of success will result in decisions and actions that will bring success results into your life.

Take control of your own thoughts, because you are the only one who can!  The Creator designed you with freedom of will to choose the thoughts you want to think, and to focus on the things you want to focus on.  His desire for your life is success.

The results you get in your life are a product of your thoughts, your emotions, your choices and your actions.

If you’re tired of trying, and tired of settling, change your attitude.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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Who Is To Blame?
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He Is Willing: Are You?

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How To Change Your Attitude!

Has anyone ever told you that you need to change your attitude?  I have been told that a few times in the past.  Honestly, at those times, they were absolutely right.

Do you realize how much your attitude affects your life?  Few do.  If they did, they would work a lot harder on their own thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Then they would on improving their skills, capabilities, and competence.

Lots of people work very hard at improving what they do; that’s a good thing.  We all need to continue to grow in our abilities in order to reach our potential. While some people work really hard on various skills, very few choose to improve their own attitude.

What is attitude?  For me, a simple definition of attitude is your consistent mental outlook. Basically, your attitude is either negative or positive.

Now when I say, “positive,” I am not talking about ignoring opportunities and problems and simply saying, “Everything is fine.”  That’s not being positive; that’s denial. And on the other hand, if something comes up that upsets you, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have a negative attitude.

What Kind Of Attitude Do You Have?

Here’s the question.  What is your consistent outlook, your projection, your desired result?  Recognizing what kind of dominant attitude you have is really quite easy.  However, changing from a negative to a positive attitude takes a little bit of effort and that effort can be life changing for you.

When negative or unpleasant things come across our path, and they always will, some look at them and say things like, “I knew that was going to happen;” or, “It figures,” or, “I never get a break.”  Consistently uttered, those, and similar comments, are evidence of a negative attitude.

Meanwhile, when positive and pleasant things come, those kind of people will feel like they are lucky, or, just “caught a break,” or perhaps feel like it’s about time something good came their way.  Again, this is evidence of a negative attitude.

On the other hand, some people encounter negative or unpleasant things and say things like, “What’s the solution here?” or, “How can we turn this around?” or, “What can I do to change this situation? That is evidence of a positive attitude.

And, when positive and pleasant things come across their path, they will say, “That’s what I thought would happen,” or, “That’s what I’ve been praying for,” or, “That is just what I was expecting.” Again, it is evidence of a positive attitude.

It Is Not Just About Changing What You Say

Changing from a negative attitude to a positive attitude is not just about changing what you say.  Those with a negative attitude don’t think of something negative to say, they just say it because it is part of them.  The same is true of people with a positive attitude, they too just say what they say because it is a part of who they are.

Attitude has more to do with vision, your outlook, your projection or your desired results.  You can call it goals or dreams, but either way, your attitude really is all about vision.

People who have no clear goals, who have given up on their dreams, have a lousy outlook on life.  They may hope that things for them will improve, but they know that is not going to happen. They tried and failed, again and again, only to finally give up and settle.

Being around people like that is not very inspiring, is it?  Their negative attitude doesn’t encourage anyone.

On the other hand, people with clearly defined goals know where they want to go. they know how to handle setbacks, disappointments and failures with confidence.  They refuse to quit; they look for another path; they choose to stay determined to get to their destination.

People like that are very inspiring, aren’t they?  Their positive attitude encourages many people. Wouldn’t you prefer being around people like that?

How To Change Your Attitude

First, think clearly about what you want for your life.  The Bible says that where there is no vision the people wander aimlessly. Focus on the details of your vision], and write them down so you can look at them consistently every day.

Second, refuse to quit, no matter what.  God has not only promised that He would give you the desires of your heart, but also that He would direct your steps and light your path. If you are sitting on the side of the road, there are no steps to direct and no path to lighten; get moving and refuse to quit.

Third, pay close attention to what you think and what you say.  The Bible says that death and life are in the power of the tongue.  Now that you have a clear projected destination, align your thinking and speaking to harmonize with your goal.

When you think or speak something negative or something that does not encourage and inspire you toward your goal, then consciously replace it with something that does.  Release and let go of defeating thoughts and words and replace them with empowering words of hope and expectation.

Can you see how changing from a negative attitude to a positive attitude can dramatically change your whole life?  In doing so, you become solution-oriented which greatly benefits all of your endeavors.  And, you will be inspiring and encouraging those around you.

Here’s a quote from John Maxwell that sums up attitude.  “There is very little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.”

If you’re tired of trying, and tired of settling, change your attitude.

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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One Word Can Change Everything

For many years, many successful people have been writing down their goals and affirmations.  Then, they discipline themselves to read those goals or affirmations every day.  This is one proven method of getting information into your belief system.

Once something is in your belief system, it will become evident in your life. It’s not magic; it’s just the way God designed our minds.  We will always evidence in our lives what we hold in our belief system.

Some call it “belief system,” while others refer to it as “core beliefs.”  The Bible refers to it as the “heart.”  In fact, one verse states, “As he thinks in his heart, so is he.”

Regardless of how you choose to label it, this is the way the mind works.  As a result, people have been writing down their goals for many years, in order to get information into their heart.

They write things like, “I am going to be successful,” or, “I will weigh 140 pounds by this summer.” They say, “I am going to do this,” or “I’m going to be that.”

A Really Big Key

I know that writing and reciting goals and affirmations is simply a method some use.  There are other methods that are used successfully as well.  However, here is a really big key.

When you write down your goals or affirmations, use the word, “because.” The word, “because” is a very important element in things that we believe.  Now, those last two statements probably didn’t have much of an impact on you, and I agree.

Here’s why. Without a good reason, the mind often disputes the affirmation. The word, “because” is a very important element in things that we hear.  If I add the word, “because,” my statement now has a logical reason to be believed.

Studies show that when someone goes to a location with a long line and then asks someone in line if they can get in front of them that about 50% of the time the person asked would agree, and say, “Okay.”

However, if, when asking to cut in line they add the word, “because,” the acceptance jumps from 50% to 90%!  “Can I get in front of you because I am really in a big hurry?” Or, “Can I get in front of you because I am already ten minutes late?”  The studies found that even if it was a lousy reason that followed the word, “because,” 90% of the people would still let the person asking go ahead of them.

Our minds are trained and conditioned so that when we hear a statement followed by the word, “because,” we assume that a very logical explanation will follow; we know a justifiable reason for the statement must exist.  That’s how our minds react to the word, “because.”  We will much more readily accept a statement that’s followed by the word, “because.”

Try It Yourself

You can try it out right now!  I’m going to give you a statement, first without the word, “because,” and then, the same statement with the word, “because.”  You decide which one has more impact.  First, here’s the statement without using the word, “because.”

Using positive affirmations can change your life. Honestly, that statement had very little impact to your brain.  But, now, pay attention to the impact it has on you when the word, “because” is added.

Using positive affirmations can change your life because you will change your core beliefs and thusly change you outlook, interpretation and reactions to life.

Do you see the difference?  Using that little word, “because,” makes your goals or affirmations real and believable. Our minds perceive it as a very good reason to believe the statement.

Writing down your goals or affirmations is a good method because it helps to get that information into your mind and eventually into your heart, your belief system.

Adding the word, “because” allows your mind to accept that information more readily, because your mind perceives it as justifiable.

Once that information is in your heart, it will become evident in your life, because, “as he thinks in his heart so is he.”

Mike Verdicchio
2012

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