“I am what I am,
and that's all that I am,”
says Popeye the Sailor Man

I realize it may be bad form to start this month's message quoting a legendary cartoon after last month's poignant poem about the nature of positive change.  I wanted to add a little levity while getting your attention about this month's thought, the nature and origin of self-fulfilling prophesies. I began with Popeye's iconic limerick because it begins with and contains the essence of any self-fulfilling prophesy; the “I am” statement. Of course, Popeye's little ditty doesn't say what he is, only that he is; but we as human beings tend to add another dimension to every “I am” statement.

It is my experience that whatever you say you are, you will be, or at some point, you will become! If you say “I am weak,” “I am lazy,” or “I am __________ (fill in your own self-limiting belief),” you will be (become) it. Regardless of where you may have acquired the original thought, whether it was an angry moment from a parent when you were a child, or a harmless statement by a teacher or close friend, whatever you say you are will manifest itself. Obviously, it is imperative to make all your “I am” statements positive ones.

There is another idea I would like to add to this equation to sweeten the pot, so to speak.  Make all your “I am” statements not just positive, but also goal-directed. “I am a superior human being” is an affirmation that is part of my daily meditation. It is a powerful message and a wonderful image, but it still does not address my end game. “I am a woman of my word” is a statement that sounds just as vague, but is far more helpful in my ultimate goal.

It goes without saying that making your “I am” statements goal-oriented involves having your goals set. Knowing who you are will dictate what you want in life and thus, how your most effective “I am” statements should be structured.  Keeping your self-aware thoughts and intentions positive and goal-directed will help keep you in line with the universal flow of energy. So you too can be strong to the finish whether you eat your spinach or not, though you do need to eat your greens!