There is a powerful message flowing throughout society today that urges us to think positively. At first thought, that might seem like an easy thing to do.

However, with so much of our world in turmoil because of high unemployment, record high foreclosures, and rising health care costs, many people are throwing their hands up, feeling defeated, and finding it impossible to think positively.

During the last several years, millions of people have learned about the law of attraction and are applying it to their lives. The most basic element of the law of attraction is to think positively, focus your attention on what’s positive, and reject anything negative.

If you are like the majority of people, you really do want to be positive. The question in many minds is how do I control my thoughts in the midst of so much adversity?

We have come to understand through the law of attraction that we have the power within us to affect our lives by what we think….and of course we want good things! The situation many find themselves in makes it seem like we are choosing between being positive or facing reality!

How can someone who is faced with losing their home have positive thoughts?

We need to move beyond whether we think we can and address the critical issue, which is that now it is more important than ever to be positive.

For most, it has more to do with not knowing how, rather that not believing it is necessary.

The good news is that there is a method to create and maintain a positive mindset. This method is a combination of several techniques.

The first technique was written to help parents teach their children to create and maintain a positive mindset. It can easily be applied to anyone learning it for the first time.

The second technique is called Ho’oponopono. I first became aware of this as a “clearing technique” used to erase limiting beliefs by Dr. Joe Vitale in his widely acclaimed program, “The Missing Secret”.

These two techniques can be learned at any age and when used together have proven to work without fail.

At first glance this method might seem entirely too simplistic to have any real value. The reality is that it’s much like anything new when we are learning it for the first time.

The steps may be simple; the work comes in the form of self-discipline and repetition.

The first step or technique in this method is to learn to be aware of what you are thinking. Research shows, and experts agree, that we can not control what thoughts come into our minds.

With that being said, we can however, control how we react to the thoughts that enter our minds. Paying attention to your thoughts puts you in the driver’s seat.

When you find yourself having a negative thought, enter into an inner dialogue with yourself and say STOP! We don’t have to accept every thought that seeps into our minds!

Once you have recognized the negative thought and took control by refusing it by using the word STOP, you have now put yourself in a place of power to CHOOSE what you will think next. You have the control.

Children have found it helpful to visualize a stop sign or if their negative thought is accompanied by a visual, they imagine a circle around the negative image with a bold red line through it, similar to road signs.

Once you have gained the control in your mind and are now able to consciously choose your next thought, the second step or technique is to replace the negative thought with a positive thought.

This can be done in two ways. The first is to replace the negative thought with a positive thought that you create that is directly in opposition to the negative thought.

For example:

Negative thought: What if I can’t pay my bills? Positive thought: All my needs are met.

Negative thought: I hate her for hurting my feelings. Positive thought: I forgive her.

The second is to use Ho’oponopono.

Ho’oponopono is an ancient Hawaiian method that Dr. Vitale learned about from therapist Dr. Hew Lin. According to Dr. Lin, its purpose is to return us back to a place of love in every moment by accepting 100 % responsibility for creating what is in our life.

Although I highly recommend reading Dr.Vitale’s book, “Zero Limits” to gain a full understanding of Ho’oponopono, based on my experience and research, I have found that using the Ho’oponopono method is effective without a great deal of in-depth understanding.

If you find yourself struggling to find a positive thought to replace the negative thought you have discarded, I suggest implementing the practice of Ho’oponopono by reciting the following:

I am sorry. Please forgive me. I love you. Thank you.

These words are said as a replacement for the negative thought. They are not necessarily directed to anyone in particular.

When being used as a replacement for a negative thought, reciting these words works to reset your thoughts back to a positive mindset.

Whether you replace a negative thought with a positive thought that you create or you recite the Ho’oponopono verse, you have obtained your goal of achieving a positive mindset.

As this method is repeated a few times, you will find it becomes automatic and will happen with little or no effort, much like riding a bicycle or driving a car.

The results of being aware of your thoughts, choosing to accept only the positive thoughts, and discarding the negative ones will bring you what the law of attraction promises….more positive.

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