My mom has certainly been the source of constant inspiration. Anyone who has heard me speak has heard stories about her. Although she is highly educated and accomplished, her advice is usually quite simple yet powerful if applied.

The simple truth is this: Our self-concept is our destiny. So if we want to change our destiny for the better, we need to change our concept and beliefs about our selves also for the better. We always have the freedom to choose better thoughts.

By Christie Wilcox for YouBeauty.com Take a moment and think about where you will be in five years. What will change between now and then? What wil...

Our thoughts are the only thing that separate us from having every single thing we could ever want.

Realizing that we choose the way in which we interpret the day-to-day data of our lives is an amazingly powerful method of regaining our sense of control over all that befalls us.

Live enough days on this planet and you're going to face some big stuff and plenty of little annoyances. There are bound to be whole days where things don't seem to go your way. What are you going to do with that?

Whether self or externally generated, our thoughts set the stage for how we feel, perceive, act, and react. When a thought makes itself at home in our brains, it prompts the formation of neural pathways that prove highly resistant to change.

Is happiness a choice, or a fleeting experience that occurs only when all our stars are all perfectly aligned? Can we lose happiness as easily as we find it, or are there attitudes we can adopt that will counter feelings of pessimism and help us to build a stronger, more resilient self?

Thirteen years ago, as a cancer patient with 3 and 5-year-old boys, I was afraid. I gained peace by asking myself over and over, "What am I afraid of right now, in this moment?" And the answer was always the same: nothing. My fears were all based on the future.

Our mind is like a very special movie projector that happens to work both in both directions: It projects information, and it receives information. Think of your thoughts as "filters" that are placed over the lens of your projector.

By embracing an optimistic approach, you are able to tackle tough situations productively and with a solution-oriented mindset. By weaving optimism into your attitude, your ability to cope with challenges may increase.

Most people hate closed MRIs. I used to be the same way until I decided to challenge my thoughts about them. What I found is if I allow my inner child and imagination to come forward, my spirits become lifted as a reward.

If we can't receive, face, embrace and take right action with the darkness we're given, how are we supposed to receive, face, embrace and take right action with the blessings?

Changing our state really isn't that hard. It's just that we've been programmed to reach for immediate gratification, for some sort of "medicine" to cover our discomfort, to reach for something external to fix us quickly, to lift us up. But all it takes is a different choice.

Instead of sweating out stress, I make a quick mental list of top five (to 10) thoughts -- simple occurrences or hopes -- that put a smile on my face.

When you stop and consider how many thought-seeds are blown, dropped, or purposefully planted in your mind on a daily basis, it may cause you to tend to your mental garden with a bit more regularity.

There are certain types of meditations where you simply sit and notice that you are "here" and your mind is out "there." There is a clear distance between you and the mind.

I began wearing a positivity bracelet two years ago when I was seeking a way to change my own thinking. At the beginning of this process, it can be overwhelming to begin to look at the number of negative thoughts that are leading your life.

"Think positively" and "the power of positive thinking" have become trademark slogans in our society. From self-help magazine articles to motivational speakers, it has become folklore wisdom -- fill your mind with positivity and you shall reap the mental health benefits.

As we enter the holiday season, focus on positive things that have happened recently, and enjoy the parties and family meals. You will carry those memories around with you for a long time.