My current work project is the design of a series of weight management strategies. One of the exercises I've added to the content requires the clients to draw a circle, then divide the circle into equal quarters. Each quarter gets a sequential number: 1, 2, 3 and 4. Next I give them a 12 inch length of cotton twine and a nail then ask them to tie the nail to the very end of one end of the string. Next they must clear their workspace, put the paper in front of them, and stand, holding the string so the suspended nail is about one inch off the intersecting lines on the paper. I ask them to clear their mind and focus on the string which I tell them will begin moving from the number one to the number three. As I speak, for the next 30 seconds, in a somewhat hypnotic tone I remind them that they have the power within them to make the nail move. Astoundingly they discover (80 percent success rate) that the nail does begin to move as directed. Next I ask them to focus on making the nail move counterclockwise around the circle. Soon they, once again, have success. I ask them to mentally focus for a third time on changing the direction of the nail so it moves clockwise. I could go on, but by then the group is rather stunned they got a response and the stage is set for me to make my point.

The point of the exercise is to remind them that changing our life starts with changing our mind. It's easy to believe that external things hold the power to our lives. But, in the same way the power of our mind made the nail move, it is what we believe-our intention-that is, ultimately, critical to whether we succeed or fail in what we want to achieve.

Thoughts like these in years past would lead folks to think I'd gone off the deep end. Now the science of quantum physics and other cutting-edge theories show consciousness to be more than a mere witness to what is happening in our lives. We may be unable to control the world outside but we can choose what we do with the circumstances of our lives and how we will respond to what falls in our path.

In short, in any moment, we can change our minds. We have the power to love or fear, to judge or live and let live, to blame or accept responsibility. Admittedly it is not easy to practice this every minute of every day. But, the longer I can hold on to thoughts like these, the easier my too busy days go by-in peace.