SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
POSITIVE THINKING
In studying John Maxwell and reading one of his great books on “How Successful People Think.” (“Change your thinking, change your life”) I tried to understand why some people are more successful than others. First, let me share what we have shared in recent Elevator Guy remarks about success. Success should be defined by YOU and not by someone else. Become an independent “critical” thinker. Not critical of others but curious as to why people do what they do. This is exactly what we are doing with our Band of Brothers in hopes that they can feel more comfortable about WHO they are, learn to grow, and look at life as an exciting challenge to not only do good, but to BE good. That requires one to really get to know him or herself. Don’t let it take a lifetime to find out. Start now to see if you can THINK your way to a new beginning.
Growing up, we all go through life comparing and contrasting ourselves to those around us. (Are you still stuck comparing yourself to others?) Often times we pick a hero, a movie star, a fictious character, work associates, or our parents and friends. “If I just can be more successful than (You fill in the blank) ……then I will be fulfilled.” This can lead one to a feeling of inadequacy and self-destruction as many of us look for an easy way out. STOP IT! Get to know yourself and learn what you have a passion for and what is important (Priorities) in your life. “Be wise, be daring, be first (take the first step), be good and be different.” Yes, I know a lot of different people who know exactly who they are and yet some become comfortable and go along to get along. We were all made for more. Maxwell reminds us that those who develop the process of good thinking can rule themselves. (Self-Mastery and Self-Actualization) Good thinkers solve problems and never lack ideas that can build their healthy self-esteem, along with helping to build their organizations. These are people who lead with HOPE for a better future. The past is the past and good thinking will take you into a better future. What do YOU think?
I am a huge self-improvement junky. I have read more books and articles on self-improvement than I want to admit. Different authors and writers have their own style and personality in writing a self-help book. This is what works for them and “might” work for me is how I approach each book. (Seeking ideas) Well, in order to bring some context to the situation, I have to be the one who figures out what works for me based on; how and where I grew up, what experiences I have had personally, whether I make good choices, and whether or not I brought others along with me to help me navigate life. This takes openness, conscientiousness, extraversion (rather than sitting back and letting it happen to you), and agreeableness. Agreeableness describes a person’s tendency to put others’ needs ahead of their own, and cooperate rather than compete with others. I see many people, especially men, who are great competitors and NEED to win all of the time. At times, to their own detriment. Now that I have retired, I have that feeling that I don’t need to compete with others. I just want to love them and root for them to grow and understand themselves. In working with our Band of Brothers, we are hoping that they learn to work as team and not just as individuals. A united team will accomplish much more than a single-minded individual any day.
If you are stuck in your own thoughts right now and are not growing as an individual in your body, mind, and spirit, you may be going backwards. Choose to go forward, even if you are in the last quarter of your life. Maxwell offers some things you need to know about changing your thinking:
- Changed thinking is not automatic: Good ideas rarely go out and find someone. If you want to find a good idea you must search for it. If you want to become a better thinker, you have to work for it.
- Changed thinking is Difficult: Albert Einstein says; “Thinking is hard work; that’s why so few do it.”
- Changed thinking is worth the investment; Invest in yourself by becoming a better thinker. That means you have to be different than the group thinking going on in most of our world.
Finally, LEARN how to become a better thinker. Here are some tips:
- Expose yourself to good input: Be interested in others and their ideas before you think they will be interested in you and yours. (there is our “curious” again)
- Expose yourself to good Thinkers: Spend time with the right people. People that are constantly trying to grow and learn.
- Choose to think good thoughts: Remember, thinking is a discipline.
- Act on Your good thoughts: Ideas often have a short shelf-life. Think things through then follow through.
- Allow your emotions to create another good thought: To start the thinking process, you cannot rely on your feelings. “You can act your way into feeling long before you can feel your way into action.” Maxwell
- Repeat the process. One good thought does not make a good life. “Success comes to those who have an entire mountain of gold that they continually mine, not those who find a single nugget.” Maxwell (Think Bigger)
What do YOU think?
Elevator Guy
Quote for the Day: “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking.” Zig Ziglar