It’s not what you say to everyone else that determines your life; it’s what you whisper to yourself that has the greatest power.
The best lessons we learn in life are the lessons we learn over and over again. The human mind needs lots of reminders — lots of practice — to operate effectively. For example, deep down we know it’s OK to…
- Say “no”
- Speak up
- Tell the truth
- Believe differently
- Change our mind
- Prioritize our needs
- Learn from our mistakes
- Embrace our imperfections
- Forgive and seek forgiveness
- Begin again, with grace and gratitude
Yet, we often do the exact opposite when life gets stressful and we’re under pressure.
We do the wrong things even when we know better.
Because the human mind has weaknesses. It becomes forgetful and insensible when it’s stressed. And the only way to conquer these weaknesses is to practice conquering them. Yes, the mind is like a muscle, and just like every muscle in the human body it needs to be exercised to gain and maintain strength. It needs to be trained daily to grow and develop gradually over time.
The easiest strategy to practice strengthening the mind?
Empowering Reminders on Sticky Notes
It’s all about keeping the right thoughts front and center every day, so they’re readily available in those moments when you need them most. For Marc and me, that means pausing as often as necessary and reflecting on precisely what we need to remember. To make this practice seamless we write ourselves important reminders on sticky notes, like the ones digitally represented below, and then we put them up where we can quickly see and read them throughout the day (most of my sticky notes are up on the wall in my home office, and then I have a couple on my bathroom mirror and refrigerator too).
These sticky notes keep us on track by keeping our minds empowered with the right perspective. Through this daily practice Marc and I have ultimately learned that while you can’t always control your outer world, you can always choose to fill your inner world with strength, faith, gratitude, and love.
And I’m sure you’ve learned something similar over the years from your own life experiences. But just like us, you often forget. Which is precisely why we have our sticky notes up where we can see them. So my challenge to YOU is to start practicing alongside us.
To get started, use our notes below — perhaps just the ones that resonate most — and rewrite them on physical sticky notes, so you can then stick them up where you can see and read them. Whenever you catch yourself feeling overwhelmed or off-center throughout the day, pause for a moment and quietly read them to yourself. See how doing so gradually changes the way you respond to life…
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(Note: Most of the sticky notes above are included in “The Good Morning Journal: Powerful Prompts & Reflections to Start Every Day”.)
You can use different forms of visual notes too.
Written sticky notes like the ones we’re encouraging you to create are powerful, but they merely scratch the surface of possibilities for beneficial visual reminders. For instance, my phone, tablet, and laptop all have their backgrounds set to photos of my family, both because I love looking at them and because, when work gets really tough, these photos remind me of the people I am ultimately working for and the fact that I am grateful to have them in my life. It’s simple but it helps (you could even set one of the sticky note images above as your background).
I also know dozens of other people who successfully use similar visual reminders on a daily basis. A coaching client of ours who has paid off over $100K of debt in the past five years has a copy of her credit card balance taped to her work computer’s monitor; it serves as a daily reminder of both the progress she is grateful to have made, and debt she still wants to pay off. Another one keeps a photo of herself when she was 90 pounds heavier on her refrigerator as a reminder of the unhealthy lifestyle she never wants to go back to, and the gratitude she has for the changes she has made in her life.
Think of moments when you are most likely to give in to impulses that keep you stuck or take you farther away from your best intentions. Then use written sticky notes and empowering visual reminders to interrupt those negative impulses, so you can keep yourself on track in a positive state of mind.
Now, it’s your turn…
Yes, it’s your turn to get some empowering notes up on the walls in your living and working spaces, so you can easily reference them. But before you go, please leave Marc and me a comment below and let us know what you think of this post. Your feedback is important to us. 🙂
Which sticky note or idea above resonates with you the most today?
Finally, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to sign-up for our free newsletter to receive new articles like this in your inbox each week.
Kathleen Vacca says
I love this post! I am sharing it with my daughter who is close to graduating college and has put herself under unnecessary stress thinking life has to be perfectly mapped out as of today! #9 is perfect for her!
Jannilyn Yacap says
Number 9 speaks to me too ?.
Ricardo Espino says
Thank You both for inspirating emails, I try to read them every morning to start my day. Again thanks and keep them coming.
Drusilla Watts-Hurt says
I came across your website and joined your email list. I’m so happy I did. My life has changed drastically since I started reading your posts. I’m fighting breast cancer again for the third time in 21-years, and I’m still winning. I decided today to stop worrying about when/if the cancer will return, and start living my life right here and now. I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you for being a part of my healing process through your words of encouragement.
Louise Ruth Kahler says
Thank you for your comment… I have survived 2 breast cancers and a kidney cancer. Glad to know I’m not alone. Bless you. Fight on!
Shae says
I used to do the same thing with index cards (a habit I learned from my mother). Your post here was a fine reminder to get me back on track with this good habit. Thank you!
D says
M&A, your teachings continue to help me find hope and direction as I navigate some very tough transitions right now.
The advice here is a solid reinforcement for me, because lately, based on Angel’s recommendation via your course awhile back, I’ve been pretty much doing exactly this–I read a part of one of your emails, posts, or a page of your 1,000 Little Things or 1,000 Habits books almost every day before I leave my home in the morning. This daily ritual keeps so many things in perspective and creates a sense of subtle awareness that somehow encourages me to face the tough parts of my life more effectively. As you’ve said, the right thoughts are sitting closer to the top of my mind these days. Thanks for continuing to be a light in my life.
Diana says
I started changing my life with “sticky notes” when I visited a friend who was going through some bad times. She had them plastered on mirrors, walls, the bathroom, etc. It helped her and soon she had me collecting quotes, notes, etc. It would be nice if you two wonderful people could have a product line (like the old page a day calendars or daily diaries, or t-shirts) that had your quotes that we could cut out or save. I am constantly receiving such great benefits from all your positive and inspiring advice. Just a thought and a note of thanks.
Sharon C says
I love these sticky note ideas. I’m gonna make one and get it up right now. The first one really hits home with me today. Thank you for sharing.
Marianne says
How timely! I just finished a text to a friend about using sticky notes and index cards as tools to sell her house and stay vigilant in her positive thinking. FL to NY state! Visualize it fellow manifesters. Thanks.
William says
I have found so much inspiration from your emails. I am hoping to be in one of your live events in in the future too. As a pastor, I use your materials often with attribution. Thanks for doing what you two do. These notes are all wonderful!
Laurie Clifton says
Mine says, ” Thrive “!!
Priscilla says
Your notes are really encouraging. Number nine hits home. Thanks for the good work you put into your essays and emails each week. Keep it up!
Mikel O'Leary says
I work with men at a residential/ detox center who are involved in the legal system. It is difficult to get them to embrace their “good”, to understand the power and grace of gratitude. I try to come up with different ways for them to see the good in themselves. One technique I use is:
I Am______
I Can______
I Will______
This is a mind-blowing exercise. I have guys who come up to me in tears when they have done this practice for a bit and they reveal how it’s changing their life. I know that practicing gratitude can make a huge difference in life- having my own daily practice of being grateful has saved my own life. I was deep in addiction for a long time. One of the things that got me sober was having a daily practice of gratitude. It’s worked for me as I have over 17 years of sobriety. LOVE THIS POST! Thanks!!!
Sue says
Thank you – I nearly missed this email – so glad I found it…
I like #8
But then they are all excellent and relevant – so thankful for them..
All good wishes to everyone…
Linda says
Thank you!
Leslie says
The reminder about “Give yourself a break today”. Resonated with me. Thank you!
Julia says
Thank you both, great blog post!
Louise says
Inspirational thank you
Scarlet says
My favorite is, “Begin again, with grace and gratitude.” This is beautiful because each day is a new day and a new chance to shape our reality into what we want it to be. Gratitude is the most powerful force I have encountered to keep me from sinking into dark thoughts. There is always something to be grateful for.
John Hughes says
#12
…”don’t be afraid, have faith, look for the learning, trust in the journey…”
This was my favorite. I have experienced these in my life’s journey. They have led to life-changing experiences.
Thank you.