Harnessing the Power to Shape Our Reality

The Creator brings the world into being and sustains it every single day. As G-d's creations, we have been given an incredible and infinite power to create and shape the reality of our lives.

G-d tells us, “I made man just slightly less than divine”. What an immense power He planted within us!

If we could look in the mirror and truly see our luminous, unique soul- our divine spark- we would be filled with awe and reverence. Not from arrogance, but from appreciation and a sense of responsibility for who we are.

G-d fused body and soul to form the human being. The word Adam (human) comes from adamah (earth), grounding us in our physical needs. But it also echoes edameh le’Elyon- “I will resemble the Most High,” reflecting our inner yearning to cling to G-d and emulate Him.

How do we tap into that divine potential and actually create the life we desire? Is it really up to us, or is everything dependent on circumstances, government, the economy, society, and the endless list of excuses?

The first step is recognizing the immense responsibility we carry. Life throws all kinds of events our way, some easier than others, and change is inevitable, whether we welcome it or not. The real question isn’t what happens, but how we respond to what happens. How do we handle what goes on inside us?

We can’t control life’s events, but we can choose how to interpret them, how to feel about them, what we think, how we speak, and what actions we take.

Today, we will focus on the power of our thoughts- what they are and where they come from.

Rav Moshe Cordovero, in his sacred work Tomer Devorah, writes that “a person must resemble his Creator, just as Divine thought constantly contemplates good, so too a person should always fill his mind with pure and positive thoughts”. We learn that we must guard our thoughts carefully, and remember that G-d’s will is always to benefit us.

Unfortunately we're not always in a place of such light, awareness, and positivity. Most of our thoughts are automatic and we may  not even be aware of them. They run through our minds, shaped by our beliefs and habits, influencing our emotions and actions.

Have you heard of the term paradigms? Paradigms are rigid mental frameworks that limit us. These are thought patterns we’ve absorbed throughout life, based on how we’ve interpreted events, messages we received from our environment, media, culture, and more. They form our identity and impact us deeply.

An empowering belief is the most powerful tool for creating good in our lives. A limiting belief, on the other hand, can be destructive.

How can we use the power of thought to our advantage? First, we need to identify what thoughts live within us. Which ones lift us up, and which ones hold us back? We need to filter our beliefs. Begin by making a list of global beliefs in any area you want to grow in such as relationships, health, parenting, finances, career, success, and so on.

In the area of financial abundance for example, ask yourself: What do I believe about wealth? You might find beliefs like: "Wealth is only for the rich," "You have to work endlessly to earn money," "Money brings security," "It comes from faith and connection to G-d," or "You have to sacrifice family time to earn it."

Once you’ve listed your beliefs in a given area, categorize them according to those which are empowering vs limiting. Be careful not to fight the limiting beliefs, because the more you fight them, the stronger they grow. Simply replace them with empowering ones. Once you’ve equipped yourself with empowering beliefs and loosened the grip of limiting ones, it’s time to raise your awareness of your thoughts. 

Start with intentional mindfulness and decide to take control of your thoughts. Don’t let them run wild- become the master of your mind. Pause throughout the day and ask yourself: What am I thinking right now? Is this thought strengthening me or weakening me? 

Success and failure both begin with belief and thought. If you believe you can do something, or if you believe you can’t, you’re right either way.

Gili Shenberger is a success coach.