One of the most important things we can do for others—and for ourselves—is to create and maintain an atmosphere charged with positive prophecies. While not all of us were fortunate enough to have parents or grandparents or families who gave us positive prophecies about ourselves, I believe that God always offers a compensating balance of grace to us. I believe that somewhere, sometime, someone offered you a positive prophecy about yourself. Perhaps it was a comment that shocked or surprised you. Perhaps it was an observation that you automatically dismissed out of foot-shuffling humility. But if you think back, I would be willing to bet that you can remember some encouragement that had been given to you—a compliment that, if believed, could be used as a key to unlock your destiny.

In a Path workshop a woman shared that she grew up in poverty in New York, but would always find her way to one of the office buildings that had a fancy elevator. “The woman who ran...