Do you remember when you were little, and you believed everything your parents told you? If you don't remember your childhood, think of any 2 year old you know or have seen.

Notice how they are so full of life, so enthusiastic about even the most mundane things. Notice how they don't hold grudges, but express their dismay instantly (tantrums) and then let go and get on with their lives?

Notice also, how they believe everything you tell them, and how they believe they can do anything. For a 2 year old, nothing is impossible (everything is at least worth a try).

Guess what, you used to be that way once upon a time.

We were all created and born with this innate ability to believe all things, to love unconditionally, to be full of life and unbridled enthusiasm for everything.

What happened to you between then and now?

What changed?

Who programmed or conditioned you to be different from the way you were originally created? Where did you learn to stop believing in yourself and your abilities?

Can you imagine how your life would be today if you still had those 'childlike' qualities of total faith that you could do anything you wanted to, that you could have anything you desired, you could be anything you desired?

Do you think your life would be any different if you still felt that sense of wonder about the marvelous world you live in? About the human beings that are all around you, each one different and unique? If you easily forgave those who wronged you and moved on?

Well, what happened to you?

Here's what happened to you between then and now.

You started receiving and playing 'tapes' from your parents, teachers, friends, church, media, all around you. Audio and video tapes.

The tapes I'm referring to are mental ones. Mostly in form of words you heard repeatedly while growing up. In your pure, innocent, believing state as a child, you accepted these words at truth, without questioning them. These words created pictures (videos, movies) in your mind that defined how you saw the world.

You believed all the programming you received, because you were still able to believe things easily.

Remember, this was the phase during which you believed in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny - you believed that a fat guy in a red suit could climb down your chimney (whether or not you had a chimney), drink the glass of milk you put out for him and leave you presents, then go round every home in the world and do the same thing (I don't even want to think of the sort of indigestion he'd have after drinking all that milk in one night!) - you believed things like this hook, line and sinker.

In the same way, you also believed other things that were said to you about yourself and about the world we live in. In other words, you received 'audio tapes' into your mind's audio player, and played these tapes over and over. With repetition, the messages on the tapes became ingrained, hardwired into your consciousness so that you forgot you'd ever been different, and were closed to the possibility that you could be different.

These tapes said things like'stop behaving like a child', 'don't be stupid', 'you'll never amount to much', 'we can't afford it', 'don't act so excited', 'shut up and do as you're told', 'you're fat', 'you're ugly', 'you cretin', 'you a cripple', 'you can't do that' - and so on.

Can you relate to any of the above?

What tapes were you programmed with as you grew up? What sorts of words did you hear about yourself?

Your life today is a result of all the programming you've grown up with and have believed.

If you're not completely happy about the way things are in your life today, then I have good news for you.

Your past does not equal your future. You can change the tape! Audio AND video. You don't have to keep listening to, or watching the same old rotten one - you can create a brand new script for your life starting right now.

You can regain your true nature.

Do you know that the word 'enthusiasm' is derived from the Greek word that means 'like God'?

That is your true nature - 'like God'. With perfect faith (which makes all things possible for you), perfect love (which is unconditional), perfect abundance (and then some!), perfect health (think: radiant, full of energy, disease-free), perfect joy and peace, perfect power (ability to take action that brings about visible, measurable, tangible RESULTS).

Every little child, before they get tainted by the world, is enthusiastic. So can you become, once again.

Just think how different your life could be: your relationships, your finances, your health, your spiritual and mental life.

It all starts with a decision on your part.

Decide that enough is enough. Decide to become like a child again.

Decide to begin today to 'play a different tape' in your mind. Choose to think only good things about yourself. Remember, you become what you think about. So think only the best thoughts about yourself and others. Refuse to entertain negative thoughts when they come into your mind (they will most certainly come, but you don't have to bring out the welcome mat and entertain them - reject them immediately and replace each one with it's positive opposite).

Be persistent about this.

Affirm your new statements several times each day. Create a mental image of the person you desire to be, and 'watch that mental movie' several times each day.

As you persist in this process of deliberate creation, you will notice your outward situation changing to reflect the new tapes you're playing in your mind.

The question will now be 'What's happening to you?'

And your answer will be 'something good, and it keeps getting better so stay tuned!'

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr Kem Thompson is a Success Coach, Speaker, Author. She can help you achieve better results at work, business, play, spiritual or in your social life.

For resources you can use today to create a better life, sign up for her FREE ezine (and get a thank-you gift)- 'Days of Success' by submitting the form at http://www.successeminars.com.