“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2 NIV

A writer once told the story of a wealthy family whose interior decorator suggested placing an ornate fancy hanging bird cage under a stairwell to fill in the empty space. The family said they did not want a bird, but the decorator sold them by lining the bars of the cage with beautiful flowers. The family loved the placement of the ornate cage, but after several weeks they called the decorator back and said they can no longer look at the ornate bird cage without seeing an actual bird so they asked the decorator to please get them a bird for the cage.

The family’s no-bird thinking changed because every time they saw the cage, they thought there should be a bird in it. Their thoughts about a bird in the cage became their actions to secure a bird for the cage. What we dwell upon becomes what we act upon. So if you want to change things in your life, begin with thinking about how what things to be.