“I believe the choice to be excellent begins with aligning your thoughts and words with the intention to require more from yourself.” —Oprah Winfrey

In the last 24 hours, have your thoughts and words been consistent with excellence? How so exactly?

1. I’m never going to be that happy again.
2. That’s just the way it is.
3. This probably won’t work.
4. If I had money, I’d just worry about losing it.
5. I don’t have what it takes.
6. That always happens.
7. The honeymoon is officially over.
8. I hate myself.
9. He doesn’t love me anymore.
10. I am not worthy

Have you ever said these statements to yourself or heard somebody else say them? When you think careless thoughts, you can count on missing many blessings that God has in store for you.

What are intending to think about for the next 45 minutes?

1. I expect the best, and it shows!
2. I trust God; my faith is strong.
3. I am responsible.
4. I take deliberate action to reach my goals.
5. I now accept the best that life has to offer.
6. I am a new creature through Christ!
7. My metabolism works effectively.
8. I stay lean even as I age.
9. I believe in the most perfect outcome of every challenge in my life.
10. I’ll figure out how to earn it.

What are you going to think about over the next 15 minutes?

Many people use “to-do” lists to clarify their priorities and guide them through the day. This is obviously a wise strategy, but even more important is to write yourself a “to-think” list.

What are 5 things you refuse to think about today?

Thinking, talking, and worrying about what you do not want can never bring you what you do want.

In what ways have you tended to talk about your worries more than your goals?

Beginning today, increase your potential for joy by identifying in writing one circumstance that you would like to improve and the change in thinking that must precede it.

If you could only change one thing in your life right now, what would that be?

“The outer world of circumstance shapes itself to the inner world of thought, and both pleasant and unpleasant external conditions are factors which make for the ultimate good of the individual. As the reaper of his own harvest, man learns both by suffering and bliss.” —James Allen

In what ways have you grown spiritually and emotionally through the experience of pain and adversity?