Count Your Blessings

1. Gratitude and Unconditional Love: The Ultimate Healers

This inner wisdom, expressing itself through gratitude and unconditional love, is the most powerful healing force there is.

Heal from within. We all possess the innate power of unconditional love, the most potent healing force available. Often, when faced with illness, we focus solely on external remedies, overlooking the profound internal wisdom that can activate complete and lasting healing. The concept of "incurable" can simply be reinterpreted as "curable from within," emphasizing that no condition is beyond the reach of this pure energy.

Certainty intensifies healing. Spontaneous healing, or "miracles," occur when we intensify this inner power through complete presence and unwavering certainty that healing will happen. Doubts and fears block this flow, while gratitude for "what is, as it is" accelerates it. For instance, Angie, a gymnast injured in a car accident, found her healing blocked by anger until she balanced her perceptions, opening her heart to gratitude and unconditional love, which restored her flexibility.

Sickness as a blessing. Illness and suffering, though painful, often serve as hidden blessings, forcing us to confront our illusions and appreciate life more deeply. Josephine, diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, used her impending surgery as an opportunity to express gratitude and love to her family. This profound shift in perception led to a spontaneous remission of her tumor, demonstrating the body's inherent capacity to heal when the mind aligns with love and gratitude.

2. Embrace Life's Dualities: Blessings in Every Challenge

Every Joy Has Its Sorrow; Every Sorrow Has Its Joy.

Illusions shatter, truth emerges. What we perceive as a "broken heart" or a devastating problem is often just the shattering of an illusion, revealing a deeper truth. The universe operates in perfect balance; for every perceived negative, there is an equal and opposite positive. By opening our hearts to the blessings hidden within difficult experiences, we can transform heartache into opportunities for growth and unconditional love.

Find the hidden benefits. When William faced a painful divorce after 23 years, he initially saw only sorrow. However, by consciously seeking out the benefits—like more time for golf or freedom from seeking approval—he discovered 53 blessings in what he first perceived as pure heartbreak. Similarly, Monica, grieving her son's senseless death, found profound blessings in the community's response, including a crime-watch program and a memorial basketball court, realizing the love her son's passing had inspired in others.

Problems are opportunities. Every challenge, crisis, or perceived problem is an opportunity to learn and love. The wise recognize that the "silver lining" is always as bright as the cloud is dark. Carol, fired from her retail job, initially felt despair but quickly reframed it as an opportunity to pursue her dream of working on Broadway costumes, leading her to a fulfilling museum job in New York. These experiences are not punishments, but messages guiding us toward deeper understanding and love.

3. Live Your Inspired Purpose: The Path to Fulfillment

You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true.

Purpose beyond goals. Many people feel unfulfilled because they lack a clear, inspired purpose, often settling for what seems "reasonable." However, our deepest fulfillment comes from identifying and pursuing our unique, heartfelt calling. This purpose is not merely a goal to be achieved; it's a lifelong vision that transcends individual accomplishments, acting as a guiding star for our entire existence.

Inspiration fuels action. When we align our daily actions with our inspired purpose, our motivation miraculously increases, and we attract the necessary resources, people, and events to manifest our dreams. Rosalyn, struggling with infertility, heard the message that "every loving wish is possible." By counting her blessings and opening her heart, she conceived a "miracle baby," demonstrating how gratitude and belief can manifest seemingly impossible desires.

Regret vs. self-discipline. The pain of regret for not pursuing our dreams far outweighs the pain of self-discipline required to achieve them. Gene, a landscape architect, felt uninspired until he rediscovered his dream of being a forest ranger. By researching and creating a new path as a land-management consultant, he transformed his avocation into a highly fulfilling and lucrative vocation, proving that it's never too late to dedicate your life to what truly inspires you.

4. Your Beliefs Shape Your Achievements

All that we are is the result of our thoughts.

Thoughts are nutrition. Just as healthy food nourishes the body, healthy, uplifting thoughts feed the heart and soul, enabling healing and achievement. Conversely, thoughts of doubt and fear block our potential. Our consciousness attracts and perpetuates what we consistently think and believe, meaning that "as you believe, so you achieve."

Affirmations create reality. The author's own journey exemplifies this: as a high school dropout, he was told by Dr. Paul Bragg to repeat daily, "I am a genius and I apply my wisdom." This consistent affirmation, despite initial skepticism, led him to pursue education, research universal laws, and eventually become a renowned speaker, demonstrating the profound power of self-belief.

Dominant thoughts direct. To succeed, it's vital to concentrate on your intentions. The more persistent a thought, the stronger its influence. Martin, aspiring to open a computer store, overcame his fears by daily affirmations and reading success stories, which shifted his beliefs and led to him successfully launching and expanding his business. Every great achievement begins with a single, nourished thought, proving that if you can conceive it, your mind can materialize it.

5. The Law of Cause and Effect: You Reap What You Sow

If you want to be loved, love and be lovable.

The Golden Rule in action. The universal law of cause and effect, often called the Golden Rule, dictates that whatever energy—be it thought, word, or action—we send out into the world, eventually returns to us. This principle empowers us to determine our own outcomes: if we sow love, we reap love; if we sow hate, we reap hate. Blessings are not luck, but the direct results of our productivity and deeds.

Actions determine results. Our life experiences are merely the predictable effects of our actions or inactions. The universe doesn't judge; it balances. George, suffering from arthritis, realized his knee stiffness was a physical manifestation of his mental "stiffness" and resentment towards his supervisor, Karl. By balancing his perceptions of Karl and acknowledging his own role in the conflict, George's physical condition improved, allowing him to walk again and pursue a new, fulfilling career.

Plant what you desire. As Mrs. Grubs wisely told the author, "If you don't plant flowers in your garden, you'll forever be pulling weeds." This metaphor extends to all areas of life: if you don't actively sow what you desire, you'll constantly be battling unwanted outcomes. By consciously planting seeds of positive thoughts, words, and actions, we cultivate the life we wish to reap, attracting abundance and well-being.

6. Overcome Self-Imposed Limitations

Do the thing, and you will have the power.

Limitations are internal. Every imagined limitation, including sickness, has a hidden fear behind it. We attract and create our own limitations, but this also means we possess the power to break through them. The key is not to repress or deny these limits, but to learn to love them, as they represent aspects of ourselves we haven't yet fully embraced.

Discomfort reveals growth. Feeling uncomfortable is a valuable signal, indicating an area in your life that you have yet to learn to love. When you allow discomfort to balloon into fear, you lose sight of your goals. Lee, an aspiring photographer, overcame his fears of talking to new people and promoting his work by systematically listing the benefits of these activities, realizing his fears were exaggerated and paving the way for his successful studio.

Self-worth is a choice. Your self-worth is a state of mind, not dictated by others' opinions. You cannot be lifted higher or put down lower than you allow yourself. Brenda, struggling with low self-worth and job rejections, realized her feelings stemmed from childhood perceptions of her father's criticism. By balancing these perceptions, she understood her father's underlying belief in her, which empowered her to pursue her own career goals and improve her relationship with her daughter.

7. The Power of Self-Reflection: Everyone Is Your Mirror

Everyone you meet is your mirror.

Others reflect you. We are often drawn to people who reflect traits we admire in ourselves, and irritated by those who display qualities we dislike. The profound truth is that whatever you see in others—positive or negative—exists within you. This principle offers a powerful opportunity for self-discovery and growth.

Dislike reveals unloved traits. The people who irritate us the most are often our greatest teachers, reflecting aspects of ourselves we haven't learned to love. Brian, who disliked his wife's best friend Sandy for being "impatient" and "gloating," eventually realized he possessed these same traits. By acknowledging this, he gained a deeper understanding of himself and his relationships.

Admiration reveals hidden talents. If you can appreciate a talent or quality in someone else, you possess that same potential within yourself, even if it's yet to be discovered or fully expressed. Steven, who denied being an artist despite painting intricate designs, only recognized his own artistic flair when prompted to acknowledge that he couldn't appreciate it in others if it wasn't within him. Embracing this truth allows us to develop our own hidden abilities and talents.

8. Your Words and Thoughts Create Your Reality

No matter what we talk about, we’re talking about ourselves.

Self-talk shapes life. Our verbal expressions evolve from our internal thoughts and dialogue, meaning the words we use, the advice we give, and the topics we choose are all messages intended for ourselves. If you constantly say, "This job is killing me," your body and mind will eventually believe it, impacting your health.

Complaints reveal voids. What you complain about in others often reflects what you perceive as lacking in yourself or what you haven't learned to love. If you complain about someone's inefficiency, it might be because you value efficiency highly but feel you lack it. Recognizing this allows you to address your own perceived voids and transform complaints into opportunities for self-improvement.

Your advice is for you. When you offer guidance to others, listen closely, as you are often sharing pearls of wisdom that you yourself need to hear. Tami, a single mother, constantly pressured her daughter Kristen about her grades, fearing she wouldn't get into college. Tami eventually realized this was a reflection of her own unfulfilled desire to attend college. By taking her own advice and enrolling in courses, Tami not only pursued her dream but also saw Kristen's grades improve naturally.

9. The Quality of Your Life Depends on Your Questions

To find yourself, think for yourself.

Questions define destiny. The quality of our lives is directly determined by the quality of the questions we ask ourselves. Fundamental questions like "Who am I?" and "Why am I here?" shape our beliefs and vision for life. Those with an "immortal vision" ask expansive questions, leading to great discoveries and lasting contributions, like Albert Einstein's query about riding a beam of light.

Questions direct learning. Our questions are sparked by our deepest purpose and guide our learning journey. The author's relentless questioning about universal laws and the mind-body-soul connection led him to develop "The Demartini Method," a tool for transforming disharmony into unconditional love. To truly stretch your mind, you must dare to ponder the imponderable, going beyond what appears to be to understand what truly is.

Examine your beliefs. Many of our core beliefs are inherited and accepted without question. To gain clarity and certainty, it's essential to examine these beliefs, tracing them back to their roots. The author's encounter with a man at a library who condemned all books but the Bible, sparked a deeper inquiry into various sciences, philosophies, and theologies, reinforcing the value of not limiting one's investigations and questioning what is automatically accepted as truth.

10. Moderation: The Secret to Lasting Vitality

You have all the willpower in the world to break any habit.

Passions in balance. While life's pleasures are blessings, overindulgence in passions can sidetrack us from our inspirations, leading to mental and physical imbalances. Moderation is key to maintaining control and transforming unhealthy habits into healthy ones. When we swing between extremes, our minds and bodies communicate distress through sickness, depression, and anxiety.

Moderation heals. Moderation creates mental and physical balance, acting as a potent healer. Joe, an alcoholic, found freedom not by trying to quit entirely, but by moderating his drinking, starting with drinking every other day. This gradual approach increased his self-worth and self-discipline, allowing him to become an "occasional drinker" and regain control of his life.

Soul's hunger. No amount of physical pleasure or material possession can satisfy the soul's infinite hunger. This inner emptiness often drives excesses. The soul is nourished when we live a grateful, inspired life dedicated to our ultimate purpose. Deborah, an overworked executive, found her health and productivity suffering until she embraced moderation in her work hours, prioritizing self-care, which ultimately led to a promotion and improved well-being.

Last updated: July 31, 2025