Beliefs 'R Us

The Bible says, "the truth shall make you free." That is a powerful statement...to those who believe it. Before you can even tap into the divine power of that statement, there is one thing that can propel you forward or hold you back. That one thing is...

BELIEF!

Your belief system holds the key that unlocks your present and future success. I can almost guarantee that any failure" you've had or currently in the midst of, your belief system probably had (has) something to do with those "failures."

Think about this: your beliefs directly affect your thoughts which, ultimately, affect your actions/behavior. Here's an example. If you believe the economy will not get any better anytime soon, more than likely your thoughts will say to you, "there aren't any jobs out there, so why look for one?" Not only will you fail to actively look but you probably won't do anything to improve your skills either.

Now the opposite belief, that the economy is on the road to recovery will lead you to think I need to position myself to be ready for opportunities that will become available. In positioning yourself, you are taking action to ensure opportunities don't pass you by. Les Brown, renown motivational speaker and author, said it best:

"It is better to be prepared and not have an opportunity than to have an opportunity and not be prepared."

So what is a belief? The best definition I've seen is from the book, "Get Off your But" by Sean Stephenson. His definition is as follows:

"A thought is like an acorn. by itself, it is a solid little object that can't do much. If you keep it in a tin can, it will never grow. but if you plant it in soil and give it the right amount of sun, nutrients, and water, it will sprout roots and grow into a huge oak tree.

In order for a thought to become a belief, it has to be nurtured by evidence that proves its own existence. With each piece of evidence, it sprouts a root, and its foundation grows stronger. Soon, that thought (true or false) becomes a sturdy belief planted in your mind, growing stronger every day." (p.93)

This definition can't be more on point. After reading this, you should be able to evaluate your beliefs and determine which ones are limiting and which ones are empowering.

You may be familiar with the saying, "as a man thinketh, so is he." Allow me to build on that by saying, "as a man believes, so he thinks." In either case, you have the power to choose those beliefs (and thoughts) that will have you reaching new heights in your life; or you can continue to choose those that keep you comfortably lacking.

NOW BELIEVE THAT!

Building a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA)

Click picture for Napoleon Hill's work

Napoleon Hill, the father of personal development and author of "Think and Grow Rich" postulated five 'Building Blocks' of a PMA. Allow me to share them with you here so that you have something to draw from when you feel a hint of negativity creeping in - that's not too difficult these days.

Building Block #1
Move with definiteness and purpose towards your goal.

Building Block #2
Establish a harmonious cooperative alliance with other people.

Building Block #3
Cultivate the habit of doing more than you are paid, or expected, to do.

[Note: Some of you (or us) may have to dig real deep on this one.]

Building Block #4
Concentrate on the habit of putting enthusiasm into your words and deeds.

Building Block #5
Create an enduring capacity for faith.

On the surface these may seem somewhat simplistic however, with further examination and practice, you might find yourself struggling with one or more of these building blocks. Anyone who has read any of Napoleon Hill's work knows that he does not cater to self-pity or wallowing in your "struggles."

I encourage you to put serious thought into each of these building blocks as they pertain to your life. Find someone you trust to assist you with building your positive mental attitude. While nothing in life is guaranteed, I assure you if you sincerely practice building each one of these, you will see a noticeable difference in your life and in others around you - at least as they relate to you.