Successful people think successful thoughts. They know that entertaining thoughts of failure and defeat is a waste of time. Successful people think of future possibilities, not of past set backs.

Now, plenty of people think that it's easy for successful people to be positive and think thoughts of success, because they are successful. But the reason successful people are successful is because they carry thoughts of success.

I recently read part of an interesting interview with actor Jim Carrey. The article reported that he said the following:

When I wasn't doing anything in this town, I'd go up every night, sit on Mulholland Drive, look out at the city, stretch out my arms and say , "Everybody wants to work with me. I'm a really good actor. I have all kinds of great movie offers." I'd just repeat these things over and over, literally convincing myself that I had a couple of movies lined up. I'd drive down that hill, ready to take the world on, going, "Movie offers are out there for me, I just don't hear them yet."

It really doesn't matter what you think of Jim Carrey. The point is, he is successful enough to earn around $20 million a picture.

I don't mean to imply that his affirmations every night on Mulholland Drive were the only contributing factors to his being successful. I really don't know what else he did. But I do know that successful people think successful thoughts.

In many motivational books and courses, you will read over and over that the way you change your life is by changing your thinking. Many people instead think that once they get the success that they desire, then will be able to be positive and think thoughts of success. They really think that the reason successful people are positive is because they are successful. Just the opposite is true.

We are all a product of our thoughts.

Is it a paradox?. Some might think of it as foolish mind games. How can you think thoughts of achieving your desires, if you have no idea of how to get there? Some may say, "You're just kidding yourself." Others would say, "It's not reality; it's not true; you're just lying to yourself."

Well, consider this. Have you ever planned for a vacation? Were you lying to yourself? Have you ever looked at brochures for your vacation destination? Have you ever been excited and pictured yourself relaxing and enjoying yourself at your vacation spot? Have you ever told anyone about it?

I remember the first time we went to Hawaii. I was so excited that we were finally going! I had many exciting thoughts about going, even months before we left. I could picture myself there, I could see and hear the ocean in my mind, and I just couldn't wait to get there!

Planning your success is a lot like planning a vacation. You get clear on where you desire to go. You pick a date. You start making plans.

And something you would never say in planning a vacation to Hawaii, would be, "Oh, I'll never go to Hawaii." On the contrary, you would be saying, "I am going to Hawaii."

Why not do the same thing with your goals and the desires you have? Why not picture and see in your mind your desired destination? Why not absolutely expect for those things to happen in your life?

Too often, people get talked out of their dreams and goals because they just can't figure out how it can possibly happen. You know something? The "how" will take care of itself, if you will get the picture clear and stay focused on it. Your dreams and goals will come into reality as you keep your mind locked into the desires that you have.

Change your life by changing your thinking. And then, continually repeat those successful thoughts in your mind.