Self-confidence

In my opinion, self-confidence is just an expectation of a positive outcome. When you have self-confidence and expect the outcome to be positive, then you are more willing to stay in the fight until you have reached your objective. You will become more willing to do whatever it takes to prepare yourself because you believe the efforts will pay off. It’s not having confidence by itself that produces success.

            Many people walk around full of confidence, but never have the expectation of a positive outcome. Work backwards. First, see the lifestyle you desire. See success first in your mind. This will then give you the self-confidence to start the project.

            Self-confidence is like the game of baseball. If you want to score, you must first get to first base. You can’t score from first base so you must do whatever it takes to get to second base. There are different ways to get to second base, or at least to move to third base. Here are the ways to score from third base. A hit will bring you in; a fly ball to outfield, and an error will bring you in as well. Even walking while the bases are loaded will bring you in. A wild pitch or a pass ball will do. A catcher’s interference will do it and a ground out that does not result in the third out will do it. You see, just having the confidence, you will score. The chances increase dramatically as you put forth the effort to increase your odds of scoring. Life is the same way.

            People cannot envision success because the distance from first base to home looks too far, so they really never try. Self-confidence without an expectation of a positive outcome, is just wishing and you and I both know that wishing alone will not accomplish anything. So grab a bat and see yourself scoring in the game of life. Expect to score and prepare yourself to do whatever it takes. Look at the faces of the winning team when they score the winning run. Then, look at the faces of the losing team and you decide which face is yours.

Today’s Exercise: Start seeing things from the end.

Today’s Affirmation: I am enthusiastic and confident.

Points to Ponder: Self-confidence is just an expectation of a positive outcome.

Ambition

The origin of the word “ambition” is interesting. The Mirriam Webster dictionary states that “ambition” originates from the Latin word “ambitio” which literally meant back then, the act of soliciting for votes. Over time, the meaning of “ambition” moved to an ardent desire for rank, fame, or power; desire to achieve a particular end. Even more interesting one of the synonyms for “ambition” is “aspiration.” Aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself and usually implies that the striver is thereby ennobled.

            In this chapter, we look at the steps that lead to success. First, there must be desire. A burning desire leads to ambition. Ambition leads to action. Action leads to success. Success and Happiness are the goals God asks of us.

Monthly Affirmation: I am enthusiastic and confident.

Positive Thinking

Faith is nothing more than a concerted effort to convey to your Subconscious Mind the thoughts that you want to manifest in your life. Faith means thinking of what you want not what you don’t want. Faith is discipline; it means refusing to accept the negative or to even think about the negative. It takes a bold person to make this stand and if you pronounce your faith out loud, you will stand the ridicule of all the negative people, which unfortunately is the bulk of our society.

Faith in a sense is trusting in God. Now most people trust in God, and they see no connection between how their lives are run and the intervention of God. Most people feel they have no direct contact with God until they die and then there is this big judgment party and you either go to Heaven or Hell. Imagine standing in line and your number is nine hundred forty-seven billion, six hundred million, eight hundred forty-six thousand, one hundred thirty-nine. That’s a long wait to find out where you are going. Now imagine going to Hell for eternity because of a few transgressions in your lifetime of one hundred years or less. Try to comprehend eternity. I remember in third grade in Catholic school I asked the nun if I ate meat on Friday and I died would I go straight to hell. She said yes, and it rocked my world. I told her that I had a Jewish friend who had chicken soup every Friday night. Is he going to Hell? Well, she realized she was getting in too deep, so she whacked me across the knuckles with a ruler and told me to sit down and shut up.

            I’m kind of curious, all those people who ate meat on Fridays during the 1920s to the 1950s did they get a pardon when the Pope did away with this sin. Think of all lives ruined because of a lack of understanding of our faith. Wouldn’t it be great if the great religions of this planet would teach love, kindness, positive thinking, and our connection to God and to every other human being on this planet instead of fear, pain, judgment, and everlasting Hell? People who die for their religion, die for nothing. People who die for faith, for their fellow human being, make the greatest sacrifice a human can make. God does not want us to suffer, to fail, or be despondent. God wants us to succeed, to feel good, to be happy, and love one another as ourselves. This is the message that Jesus and all the other holy lords have taught us.

“As ye believe, so shall it be done unto you.” – Jesus Christ

Today’s Exercise: Make up your mind that God does not destroy itself.

Today’s Affirmation: The kingdom of God is within me.

Points to Ponder: Faith means thinking of what you want not what you don’t want. “As ye believe, so shall it be done unto you.” – Jesus Christ