Tap affirmations to sharpen focus and invite luck

Early on, I was terrified of speaking in front of crowds—even my cat for that matter. My throat locked up every time a stranger greeted me. It was like a switch snapped off. I tried everything—coaching, hypnosis, embarrassing phone tests—but my voice kept locking.

One night, at the edge of giving up, I scribbled an affirmation on a yellow note: “I, Scott Adams, will speak perfectly.” I stuck it to my computer monitor and said it before drawing comics each morning. A week later, I had to return a rental car and faced a surprised clerk around the counter. My voice was steady. I got my deposit back without a hitch.

Lesson learned: Saying it to yourself—really believing it enough to say it 15 times daily—changes your inner dialogue. Your brain shifts from “What if I mess up?” to “This is who I am.” Whether you call it reprogramming, positive self-talk, or something else, the result is unmistakable. You act on what you repeat.

Now I use affirmations for almost everything—new ventures, fitness goals, even social confidence. It’s not rocket science; it’s just programming your moist computer so luck can find you.

Carry your declaration every morning and night—even a flimsy sticky note will do. Picture your perfect outcome in vivid detail, then say your phrase out loud ten times. Track every little success, no matter how small, in a quick log. Over weeks, your brain will switch from worry to performance mode—give it a try tonight.