Do you know that you have the power to succeed at everything you do right now, this minute? Are you surprised? Your thoughts control the actions that create your successes or failures. So if your thoughts are the foundation for success, if we spend some time focusing on the type of thoughts that are typically manifested and the ones that create success, you'll have the tools necessary for self-empowerment.

When it's time to try something new do you run right out and jump into it, confident that you are going to succeed with no doubts? Isn't that a wonderful picture? But unfortunately much of the population first has to contend with a little negative self-talk, a personal "gremlin" if you will. Are you familiar with the gremlin? Perhaps you know him or her by a different name. He or she sits waiting to shoot down our ideas, deflate our elation, and sabotage our plans ... when we allow it to happen. Often, this negativity is so commonplace that we don't even recognize it when it is occurring; therefore we are unable to stop it. So, when we carry on with our activities we are often full of doubt, harboring feelings of incompetence, and brandishing insecurities that are in essence setting us up for failure, or at the very least a much more difficult road towards success. The worse case scenario is when we allow our gremlins to stop us from even trying to reach our goal. So how do we silence the gremlin, replace him/her with our own personal cheerleader instead? There are several ways.

Learn to recognize the gremlin for what it is. A thief that stifles creativity, hinders success, and paralyzes growth. Then begin to listen carefully for that voice and cut it off before its effects can take root. In The One Minute Millionaire, Mark Victor Hansen and Robert Allen suggest wearing a rubber band on your wrist for a month and giving yourself a "zing" whenever you hear that gremlin beginning to discourage you. Talk about a reminder! I don't know about you, but I'd rather zing the gremlin than myself any day!

Next, you can surround yourself with positive, happy people who do not allow gremlins to steal their successes. First, it becomes very difficult to continuously hear about positive things without some of your own to add. You'll start looking for ways to join the crowd. Second, the more you are around positive thoughts, the more real they become, and the more you attract the same back to you.

Recall the times when you successfully combated your gremlin and let those serve as your road map. Knowing that you have what it takes to face any challenges and overcome your obstacles, is just the thing needed to bolster your confidence and self-esteem ... two of the things that gremlins seem to sap out of their victims. Don't be a victim any longer, be a victor.

Lastly, write it down in a journal. Journaling is a wonderful way to chronicle your victories. Writing things down allows you to explore the feelings, thoughts, and circumstances that surrounded the experience. Details that are typically glossed over when the part of the big picture, could be extremely beneficial when later explored.

So are you ready to step up to the challenge? I know you can do it! Learning how to silence your gremlin is a tool that will be beneficial for life. Isn't it time to empower yourself and position yourself to succeed at all you set out to accomplish? Yes, Yes, and YES!!! Put your cheerleader to work today!

Eva Gregory is the author of The Feel Good Guide to Prosperity. All rights reserved.

• The Art of Achievement


• Choose Your Path


• Develop A Magnetic Lifestyle


• Defining Your Dash


• Goal Setting: No New Years Resolutions


• Goal Setting and Goal Getting: 4 Simple & Powerful Points


• Commit to Win!


• The Long Arm of the Law of Attraction


• The Power of Goal Setting


• Goal Setting and Goal Getting: 3 Traps to Avoid