Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 21 seconds.
TODAY’S IDEA: Believe you can succeed and you will – Part 2
— From The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. (Read an excerpt here.)
Yesterday we started talking about the importance of having a deeply rooted belief in our capacity to make our goals happen. Yet when we think of that, it’s natural for our lizard brain to pay a visit and remind us of our disbelief and all those times when we have failed.
Schwartz also talks about disbelief: “The ‘okay-I’ll-give-it-a-try-but-I-don’t-think-it-will-work’ attitude produces failures. Disbelief is negative power. When the mind disbelieves or doubts, the mind [comes up with] ‘reasons’ to support that disbelief. Doubt, disbelief, the subconscious will to fail, the not really wanting to succeed, is responsible for most failures.”
“Think doubt and fail. Think victory and succeed.”
Mankind has been to the moon and back. Mankind has built a tunnel under the English Channel. Mankind has built the Great Wall of China. Mankind has been able to connect all of us via the Internet. Mankind has developed nanotechnology. And the best part is that mankind is made up of normal people, just like you and I, who deeply believed they could achieve their goals.
Ok, so we’re at a point where we want to believe or, at least, we’re willing to give it a try, right? Schwartz gives us the following three steps to develop the power of belief:
1. Think success, don’t think failure. “At work, in your home, substitute success thinking for failure thinking. When you face a difficult situation, think, ‘I’ll win,’ not ‘I’ll probably lose.’ When you compete with someone else, think ‘I’m equal to the best,’ not ‘I’m outclassed.’ When opportunity appears, think ‘I can do it,’ never ‘I can’t.’ Let the master thought ‘I will succeed’ dominate your thinking process. Thinking success conditions your mind to create plans that produce success. Thinking failure does the exact opposite.”
2. Remind yourself regularly that you are better than you think you are. “Successful people are not supermen. Success does not require a superintellect. Nor is there anything mystical about success. And success isn’t based on luck. Successful people are just ordinary folks who have developed belief in themselves and what they do. Never—yes, never—sell yourself short.”
3. Believe big. “The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success. Remember this too! Big ideas and big plans are often easier—certainly no more difficult—than small ideas and small plans.”
In closing, I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite success authors and sales guru, Zig Ziglar:
“I believe success is achieved by ordinary people with extraordinary determination.”
ACTION
TODAY: Think about your goals today, and determine what is stopping you from achieving them. Fear? Resistance? Disbelief? Doubt? Bring to mind the memory evoked yesterday about a time when you attained a goal because you firmly believed you would. The goal could be finishing school, finding a job, getting married, turning in a project on time, taking your niece to the circus, flossing… big or small, we’ve all committed to something in the past because there was no doubt on our minds that we would do it, and we did.
With that memory in mind, firmly commit to believe in yourself as of this moment, and figure out what you will tell your lizard brain when disbelief and doubt show up (they will, but you can tame them and make them go away: thank them for wanting to participate and tell them there is no room for them). Here’s a great post by Seth Godin on Quieting the Lizard Brain.
FUTURE: Whenever you’re hesitating, remember that you have everything within you to succeed. Your belief and your determination will help you find the ways to achieve whatever you need to reach your goals. It may not be easy, but your belief will bring about the resolve and find the resources to make it happen.
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