So, you’re running late for an appointment, and you’re ready to leave your home when you realize that you’ve misplaced the keys to your car. If you’re like the majority of people, you’ll begin a mad search; looking on the top of your dresser, the key holder at the entrance to your home, or your purse or pockets. As the minutes tick by, and you feel the mounting pressure to leave, there will most likely be an interior dialogue squawking in the background of your mind that might sound like the following:

• “Oh, God, I’m never going to find these keys!”
• “I’m going to be late; I just know it!”
• “I don’t have time for this nonsense!”
• “I can’t see them! Why can’t I see them?”
• “This is just like me! I’m so stupid!
• “Today of all days!”

If any of that dialogue sounds familiar you’re not alone. Is that dialogue harmless? Hardly, and here’s why. What we habitually tell ourselves is a reflection of our inner thoughts. Those inner thoughts are creating our future. In effect, we’re programming our reality in much the same way that a computer is programmed. There’s an well-known phrase in the computing world that states: garbage in; garbage out. It means that the success of the computer system will only be as good as what’s programmed into it. Humans are no different!

How the above dialogue actually brings an effect in our real world is simple. For every time that we tell ourselves “I can’t find my keys!” we’re programming the mind not to alert us to the keys even if they’re actually there. A little proof of the above, which many may have experienced, is when someone–perhaps a spouse or partner, proceeds to look in the very same drawer or coat pocket that we have just searched. Exasperated, we say that we’ve already looked there, only to have the person triumphantly shout that he/she found the keys…in the exact place that we had already searched!

Why could this actually happen so often? The answer, which I can’t prove, is simple to understand. The spouse/partner is using a different program, one with very different dialogue playing in the background. In fact, the person may take great delight in finding something that we couldn’t find. Chances are the helper was thinking: “I know I can find those keys; I know I can.”

The good news is that we can change our programming, by conscious effort. We can program ourselves in ways that are beneficial to us in every aspect of our life. It doesn’t take a genius to realize the difference that positive internal dialogue could make regarding a new business, a weight loss program, an exercise plan, or a new skill that we’re trying to master.

What we’re telling ourselves literally matters, as the events and circumstances of our life. This practice is worth putting to the text the next time you misplace your keys. Just tell yourself something positive.

Dare to dream (and care for one another).

With heartfelt regards,

Art

Copyright © – 2020 – R. Arthur Russell

P.S. Please share this article if you enjoyed it. If you’d like to view my latest book (This Taste of Flesh and Bones), press here. My YouTube videos can be found at Think2wice@I-Am-Aware. May the content of either or both help you along your spiritual journey. “Thank You” & “Note to Publishers” 🙏🏻🧡