Some occupations require a suit and tie. Others require a special uniform. People put on a variety of types of clothing before they head out for the day.

Regardless of what clothing you put on your body for the new day, what thoughts do you put on in your mind for the new day? Putting on your clothing can serve as an excellent reminder to put some healthy and productive thoughts into your head.

Many studies show that the thoughts you think about during the first half hour you are awake influence your life for the entire day. Few people realize this. Yet, it is true.

How many people as they wake up think, "Oh no, I have to get up and go to work!" That thought is a habit that they have developed. And so, they are setting their course and the tone for the day with negatives about their job. They also usually display that kind of attitude all day at work.

But, on the other hand, what happens when you wake up on the morning of the start of a long planned vacation? Would you ever think, "Oh no, I have to go on this vacation!" Well of course not!

A really big key to being successful in life is what you think when you first wake up. Since you have free will to think whatever thoughts you want to think, the first thoughts in the morning are like a set of directions you give to your own mind. You give your mind the course to follow.

You can choose to think thoughts that inspire success or failure; victory or defeat; confidence or fear; happiness or sadness. But, many people allow their thoughts to be determined by their circumstances and situations. In other words, if things in their life are going lousy, then they think lousy thoughts. They fail to recognize that they still have a choice as to what kind of thoughts they can think.

Some might argue that it is foolishness, or even mind games, to think positive, happy thoughts when their life is not going well. What they do not understand is that their mind will follow the directions that they give it, regardless of the present circumstances in their life.

The Bible certainly gives valuable instruction about thinking the right thoughts. But, I am not aware of any scriptures that talk about thinking positive, encouraging or uplifting thoughts only when things are going well. Quite the opposite exists; the instructions indicate to not think and dwell on negatives and defeat.

Does this mean we are to simply ignore all our problems and pretend that they don't exist, and to live in a fantasy world in our minds? Of course it does not. Real problems and real issues need real solutions. However, we will not arrive at those real solutions by focusing on the problems. At best, we will just temporarily cover them up.

Regardless of where you have been in life's journey, or where you are in that journey today, it is both possible and available for you to really enjoy happiness and success in every category of your life. The only limits you have are the limitations that you accept. You either accept them, or erase them by the thoughts you decide to think.

Start forming new habits of thinking as you get dressed every morning. As you put clothes on your body, remind yourself, at that moment, to put on good, healthy and productive thoughts. Tell yourself who you are and what you can do. "I am a child of God!" "I am more than a conqueror!" "I can do all things!" "God will help me!" "I am going to have a great day today!"

You really are in control of your own life. You have free will to think whatever thoughts you want to think. Just remember that the thoughts you consistently think will form your belief system, your core beliefs. And, our own core beliefs determine our own circumstances.