capturing your thoughts (secular)

From Jack Canfield:
​
"Your thoughts create your reality."

You've probably heard this saying before -- but have you ever wondered what it really means?
Maybe you've heard it summarized as, "If you think happy thoughts, you will have a happy life." 
And sure, that's generally true. But it's also pretty simplistic. 

Because it's not so much about "thinking happy thoughts" -- it's about how you see yourself and the world around you. It's about the goals you visualize yourself achieving, the reality you dream of creating, and the stories you tell yourself that determine how you show up in the world.

Most of all, it's about understanding that you have the power to change those stories at any time. You have the power to visualize a better reality for yourself. You have the power to tell yourself that you can do it, that you are meant to do it, and that the universe actually WANTS you to do it. 

And you have the power to always assume the best instead of the worst and see setbacks and failures as the opportunities they really are. 

But to change your stories, first you must become aware of them. 

In other words, you must become more mindful. Because that's what mindfulness is: conscious awareness of your thoughts and the impact they have on you, so you can release the thoughts that aren't serving you and replace them with more positive ones that will help you get the results you want.