I started to examine and take seriously my thought life about five years ago. In the beginning my mind was so wrought with fear, judgment, and just a general sloppy mess of words like “can’t,” “won’t,” “hate,” words carrying so much negative weight it was no wonder I found myself sinking into the mire of mediocrity and lack.

Just starting small with changing your thoughts will bring about huge results. Some of the things I suggest may make you think: “That won’t change anything, it’s just a thought.” Well, just try even one of these exercises on a daily basis and see how differently you start to feel.

• First thing in the morning upon awakening, think of joy flooding your heart, and envision gold light filling up your chest, your body, and then illuminating your whole room. The thought of joy will change the course of your morning. You can add an angelic or divine presence to this practice, as in the “Upon Waking” ritual, if you wish, but you can also keep it very simple.
• When you look in the mirror, say out loud, or think to yourself: “You’re beautiful! I love you so dearly.” Again, it sounds corny, but if you say it, or think it about yourself, it will eventually open you up to healing long-standing wounds you’ve inflicted upon yourself. Feelings of “I’m not deserving of a full, rich life” or “I’m not good enough.” If you’re tough on yourself (like I am), thoughts and words of love afford a little softness and tenderness to take root. It also helps you find love for others more easily. If you love and forgive yourself, it’s a great start in loving and forgiving others.
• As the day progresses, when you see people, try to see and think of a golden spark in them, as I suggested in Part 3. As you pass them on the street or in the workplace, or even in the people with whom you live, envision that spark of gold. It helps to see all people as sharing that one energy source. Even if we or they may not be acting like it, it’s still there.
• At the end of the day, look at all you’ve done and bless all your relationships, projects, and interactions with divine love. Just think or say to yourself, “I bless this situation with divine love,” and see how it feels. During sleep, your subconscious mind will let go of the problems or snags, and divine love will start to work in ways you’ll never quite believe.

I now find I can be aware of my thoughts maybe 50 percent of the time. I’m able to see a thought come into my mind and have the buffer to decide: should I say this out loud or not? Most of the time, I decide the thought need not be uttered.

I’ve become much more conscious of my idle chatter and my judgments about myself or others. It’s taken a long time, and the work will never be finished, but I think I’m better for being a little bit quieter.

I think Damien thinks so, too. But, being the quiet type, he hasn’t used his words to say it!