The Power of Positive Expectancy . . .

Expect things to go right. Believe you are a healthy person. You are not deluding yourself; you are helping yourself. You are furthering your cause, and you are increasing the likelihood of getting what you want.

Remorse is similar to worrying, except that it looks backwards, causing you to feel anxious about something that happened in the past. To feel guilty or ashamed because we made some sort of mistake is necessary. We cannot correct it until we recognize and acknowledge it. But we must not dwell on it.

Yes, that is easier said than done. We try to push the thoughts away, but they keep coming back, reminding us and making us feel terrible about ourselves. The damage, though, is done, no matter how bad we feel. We will not be able to undo it. We cannot turn back the clock.

So why not use it in a constructive way?

The good thing about mistakes is that we learn from them. If we did everything right all the time, we would stand still. It is only when things don’t work out, when we make mistakes, that we learn to look for new ways and build the strength and character to carry them out.

When problems come your way, don’t resist them. You are at your strongest when you stay flexible. Mishaps can occur and sweep you off your feet like a tidal wave. Whether or not you drown in them depends on how you ride the wave.

There is no better way to strengthen your inner self than through the ongoing, effective use of positive affirmations. This is not an opinion; it is a proven fact. However, it is also a fact that affirmations are effective only if done the proper way. You need to get past your conscious mind, which will not believe you, to your subconscious mind, which will. (I go into that thoroughly in the sessions in my course titled "Conquer Stress Today.")

Truly successful people know that the physical situations they have created for themselves do not comprise success. They are only the symptoms of the quality of success that was already there within themselves long before then. The late Earl Nightingale once asked a very rich man at what point he considered himself rich. The man replied, "I was rich long before I ever had any money."

Of course, success is not all about money. "Success" can have different meanings, and we need to be able to define it before we have any chance of achieving it, which is a topic for another day. (See my June 18 entry, "Elusive Success.") The principle here, however, is where it all begins: in the head and in the heart.

It can be there for you, too. Positive expectation is not just an empty expression. It is a process that brings results. This has been repeatedly proven over time. Put the past behind you, once and for all. Expect the best out of yourself. Expect the best to happen for you. The results will amaze you.