Do you live your life waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel? Does your life feel like a series of difficult challenges with one hurdle after another? Do you have dreams that you wish you could achieve, but feel like you never will, or lack the courage to take the risks necessary to move toward what you really want to do?

If any of the above statements describe how you feel, the great news is that you do not have to feel this way any longer. You can allow the tunnel to become darker, or you can experience the light almost immediately by beginning to think in a new way.

For me, thinking in a new way meant that I had to take ownership of my mind. Many people have unwittingly become the victims of their own minds by unconsciously engaging in negative thinking. If you change the way you think, you can change your life, and a sure way to do this is to replace your negative thinking with positive thinking. For me, the only way to begin thinking in a consistently positive way was to practice positive affirmations. The practice of positive affirmations has helped me to discipline my mind, increase my self-esteem, overcome worry, develop courage, and become happier.

A positive affirmation is a positively worded statement that you repeat to yourself with the intention of changing behavior and circumstances to improve your life. If practiced with commitment and deliberation, you will experience immense benefits. A powerful affirmation to begin with is “I love and respect myself.” Give it a try for just 10-20 minutes per day. You have nothing to lose and much to gain. Below are some of the key advantages of beginning this practice.

1) Learning to consciously love and respect yourself. Cultivating a deep and consistent love and respect for yourself is a sure way to increase the quality of your life. This has nothing to do with arrogance or conceit, but rather will help you to see yourself as the beautiful creation you are. Further, as Jesus said in Matthew 7:3, “And why worry about a speck in the eye of a brother when you have a board in your own?” (The Living Bible) In other words, it’s important for you to love and be confident with who you are before you can expect to be effective at expressing love toward and helping others.

2) Disciplining your mind to obey you. Positively affirming love and respect for yourself is the first step toward training your mind to be obedient to you. Repeating an affirmation designed to increase your self-esteem will enhance your ability to concentrate more effectively.

3) Prolonging positive thought. Developing and nurturing a consistently positive mental attitude is a sure way to prepare for success in life, and becoming comfortable and confident with who you are is an important step toward developing a positive mindset and becoming happy.

Henry Ford put it beautifully when he said “whether you think you can, or that you can’t, you are usually right.” You have the power to propel yourself out of the tunnel and into the light, so start thinking positive today!