Use Mind Principles to Succeed at Your Resolutions

Another new year, another new resolution…well, maybe not new. Maybe you’re still reaching for that goal of getting published.

I stopped making resolutions eons ago because I never succeeded reaching them anyway.

Then I turned to creating SMART goals. They helped, but I always fell short—way short.

Have you done the same in your effort to get published, but met with no success?

That’s because we didn’t understand how the brain works.

Or how to merge biblical principles with how the brain works.

Today, I’m offering a better option for reaching your dream of best-selling author. 

Last year I read an amazing book titled Making Your Mind Magnificent: Flourishing at Any Age by Steven R. Campbell, aka the “Brain Whisperer.” The title appealed to me because I love learning and because last year I hit the big six-0. I want to keep my mind active and keen, whether I’m 60 or 100. Don’t you?

I admit, I discovered this book because Steven hired me to edit his next book. But that’s the wonderful thing about being an editor, discovering other books and learning from them even as I edit them.

As Steven worked on his manuscript, I read Making Your Mind Magnificent.

Here’s some of what I learned about how the brain works and mind principles, and then began to apply to my personal life and business.

Mind principle 1: Your brain believes everything you tell it, without question.

Oh my gosh! Everything? Yes.

Without question? Yes.

It doesn’t matter whether you are telling it the truth or not. It just says “OK” to what you tell it, and gets on about doing it.

Are you telling yourself you’ll never find a publisher? Guess what? Your brain believes it. What’s the outcome? You don’t find a publisher.

Mind principle 2: We behave and act not according to the truth, but according to the truth as we perceive it to be.

This applies to our self-images (yes, images, plural). You have a self-image for everything about you. I’m a published author, but not a best-selling or award-winning author. If I want to become one, I have to create a self-image of myself as already being a best-selling, award-winning author.

Mind principle 10: Your brain locks onto the strongest picture.

In accordance with mind principle 2, if I want to be a best-selling, award-winning author then I have to tell my brain I already am (mind principle 1). (This is God’s principle of calling those things that are not as though they are.) Then utilizing mind principle 10, locking onto the strongest picture, I create a self-image of me having done just that, complete with all the excitement, thrills, and financial benefits that go with it.

Remember, your brain believes everything you tell it, without question, truth or not. The brain doesn’t care; it simply excepts it and then works to make it happen.

If you tell yourself you’re a starving artist, the brain believes it and works to make sure you are. (Ouch!)

If you tell yourself you are a best-selling author (or whatever your dream may be), your brain believes it and works to make it happen.

Now envision yourself as having already achieved your dream and all that means to you (locking on to the strongest picture), the brain believes it and works to make it happen.

Locking onto the strongest picture is very important. It helps override the previous negative strong picture (self-image) you have about yourself, and replaces it with the new one.

Once again, science proves the Bible

What I love about what science has proven about the brain, is that God said it all in His Word millennia ago.

“As he thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7 NKJV)

But like resolutions and goals, this isn’t something you can do one time and it all magically happens. Replacing negative self-images takes effort. Thank goodness we have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to empower us to make change.

“But man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV)

God provided His Word in the Bible. What He says about you is true. Use His Word to replace your self-images.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

I am His masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10)

I am the apple of His eye, His most precious possession. (Zechariah 2:8)

He gives me power to get wealth so He can confirm His covenant. (Deuteronomy 8:13)

Everything I set my hand to prospers. (Deuteronomy 30:9 and 29:9)

He delights in my prosperity. (Psalm 35:27)

He gives life to the dead and calls those things that do not exist as though they did. (Romans 4:17) And He tells us to do the same thing: ask and believe you have received (Mark 11:24).

These mind principles are boiled down to the very basics of what Steven shares in Making Your Mind Magnificent, but I hope they have opened your mind to new and greater possibilities.

Merging these mind principles with the power of God’s Word has made a tremendous difference in my life.

If you’re going to make a New Year’s resolution this year, make it to apply these principles, and you’ll soon discover your brain working to meet that goal of publication.

Next month, we’ll look at creating those stronger pictures and writing affirmations.

ABOUT STEVEN R. CAMPBELL

Steven is an award-winning author, speaker and mentor to individuals and organizations. Known as “the Brain Whisperer,” he teaches how your mind can be your greatest adversary and, when understood, can be transformed into your greatest friend and ally.

After working in hospital administration for 20 years, Steven acquired his Master’s Degree in Information Systems and went on to pursue his greatest love—teaching, where he served as a college professor and eventually educational dean for another 20 years.

It was as a professor that Steven developed a curriculum based on brain science to help students end negative thinking, improve focus and clarity, and ultimately transform their lives.

Visit Steven at his website and view a short video. Purchase his book
Find him on Facebook.