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.

To Be Successful You Must Have a Positive Mental Attitude

Why is this so important? Because your mental thinking, your thoughts are connected directly to the Creator of all things. This Creator will do your bidding and if you have a negative mental attitude, then you will receive negative results. This sounds like common sense to me. There’s an old computer saying that goes, “Garbage in garbage out.” Well your mind is the most powerful and most sophisticated computer in the universe. Why would you think it would give you anything other than what you put into it? We are in the information age; technology is doubling every ten years. Five hundred years ago, the average person had an excuse. Today we see it all around us. Use your Subconscious Mind or you will be no better off then the peons of yesteryear.

One’s place in life is largely determined by one’s mental attitude.   

Read that sentence over and over, until it sinks in. Don’t buy the get rich quick schemes of the con artist. There are no quick short cuts or once in a lifetime deals. I said it before and I’ll say it again, “That once in a lifetime opportunity comes along every fourteen minutes.” If you’re not prepared for it, it will go right by you disguised as a problem. A positive mental attitude wins financial success. This is a law. There are no maybes or lucky streaks or being in the right place at the right time. You must prepare for success. It starts with your mental attitude. Positive means confident expectation, self-confidence, optimism, initiative, courage, energy, and expectation of wealth, health, and happiness. Sounds easy doesn’t it, yet you are probably thinking negatively seventy-five percent of the time.

It’s human nature; we live in a negative world. Count how many times someone says something negative in your presence. Watch Everybody Loves Raymond on the TV and count all the negative situations and statements. This is a top rated TV show reaching millions of people each week. Poor Robert. This character thinks negatively ninety-nine percent of the time. Now it’s just a TV show I know, but that message is being fed to our Subconscious Mind as, “This is a normal way to live.” We need a makeover. We need to understand that it is not talent, education, or your job that will determine your success, but your mental attitude that wins success. Here’s the good news. You have complete control of what you put into your Subconscious Mind!

Today’s Exercise: Take a journal and write down every negative thought, word, or situation that happens to you today and turn those thoughts in positive thoughts.

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

Points to Ponder: One’s place in life is largely determined by their mental attitude.