Remember those infamous Three R's? There is another set of three R's which can help you recreate your life:" Recognize, Refute, and Reprogram.

Recognize: If we want to recreate our life, we have to start by becoming aware of what we aren't happy with. And sometimes, it is hard to recognize. For example, think about the phrase "yeah, but?"

"Yeah, buts" are strong negative affirmations. (I am filled with glorious heath and energy yeah, but why do I feel so bad? OR yeah, but I've just been given a horrible diagnosis. I magnetize money, and have plenty to share and spare yeah, but I don't really know where the money is going to come from to buy groceries this week! I am one with God and all is well yeah, but I sure don't think God is doing His part!)

When, then games are procrastination devices. (I believe that what we give comes back to us multiplied - and when I win the lottery or get that big contract or promotion, then I'll start really tithing! I believe that God is the source of all good, and when I buy that new home, then I'll be really happy!)

Mismatching words and actions occurs when we say one thing, but our actions don't live up to or model what we say. (In dance, when we count steps - triple step, triple step, rock step - but our feet are doing all kinds of weird steps that have nothing to do with our words!

Refute: To refute means to refuse to give any power to the attitudes and comments of other people. Essentially, it means not allowing other people to control our life experience. (For example, we can make statements such as: There is no way your attitude will change my attitude!) We can also refuse to give power to the world of appearance in terms of lack, or illness, or fear. (For example, we can say, "I refuse to give power to this situation" OR "This perceived health challenge has no power over me.")

The denials we are talking about do not mean the same thing as the psychological term "in denial." According to Webster, to deny means to declare to be not true; to declare as utterly false. Denials are our ability to put our error thoughts in their proper place. Denials are a way of talking back, refusing to give power to something 'outside' of us that seems controlling or restrictive.

Reprogram : Whenever we deny power to something, it is extremely important that we follow up with a strong affirmation! We must fill the void created by denials with powerful statements of Truth. In the Gospel of Luke 11:24-26, Jesus shares a parable about a man who cleaned his house and eliminated an evil spirit. However, when the spirit returned and, finding the "house" swept clean, decided to move back in, and brought along seven of his cronies, all more evil than he. This is just a reminder to us of how critical it is to solidify our beliefs and reprogram our thinking, by following up denials with powerful affirmations!

In her classic, Lessons in Truth, Emilie Cady states: "to affirm anything is to assert positively that it is so, even in the face of all contrary evidence. Deny the appearance of evil; affirm good. Deny weakness; affirm strength. Deny any undesirable condition, and affirm the good you desire."

The secret is to claim your affirmations with power -- with faith! When you use a "sort of - kind of " approach, you are simply wishing. When you affirm "Absolutely Positively," from the strength of your Christ consciousness, you are speaking with a voice of power and Truth!

We attended our granddaughter's graduation from the pre-Brownies group, Daisies, and enjoyed looking through the gift her leaders had given each girl: an album filled with pictures capturing the events they had participated in during the year. One of the pictures showed the girls lying on the ground, in front of a fire truck, with the words "Stop, Drop, Roll" above the photo. Our granddaughter proudly told us that it was a phrase the firefighters taught them, so they would know what to do if they ever caught on fire: Stop, Drop, Roll.

It really connected with us and so we applied it to the 3 R's: STOP - Recognize the maybe's that dilute your spiritual growth and happiness; DROP - Release error thinking and behaviors by denying their power; and ROLL - Reaffirm the transformative power of the beliefs, the Truths, of spiritual principles! Put the 3 R's into practice so you take the Maybe out of Definitely.