Integral Development Forum

Positive thinking does not always work, particularly when it is in direct contrast with the picture you have of yourself.

Everything that we think, feel, and do is experienced in such a way to be consistent with the picture which has been developed on the inside. Consequently, you may be a very gifted singer, possess the ability to entertain others, but if you do not believe that about yourself, you will never use that ability to its full potential.

Who do you think you are? The final ingredient in the Magic Formula for Dynamic Living is the multiplying power of a proper self-image.

You can become any kind of person you choose to be.

That change is a process-an ongoing, exhilarating journey. It can be started with five basic steps.

One: Understand the Source of Your Self-Image

The image you have of yourself today exists because of the experiences of the past.

I believe, as many doctors do, that your self-image began to be formed early in life.

We are not locked into any image of the past. We have been made to believe we are the way we are because of past programming.

Unless you have taken some time in your life to change your image, you may still be walking around today with an inferiority complex.

The first step to changing a self-image is to understand its source.

Think of it! A majority of the image is formed before one can reason or communicate.

Second Step: Believe Your Self-Image Can Be Changed

You can change! But you must believe that you can become a different type of person!

Third Step: Decide What Kind of a Person You Would Like to Be

I did not ask, “Who would you like to be?” You are you! I am not asking you to become someone else, I am challenging you to become the best ‘’You’’ that is possible.

Fourth Step: Write It Down

Take a book, a sheet of paper, or file cards and write a personal description of the kind of person you want to be. These statements should be made in the present, positive tense.

Decide who you want to be. That is far more important than the material things you want, or your achievements in business or professional endeavors.

There is no such thing in life as status quo. You do not remain where you are; you are either in the process of improving and growing, or you are in the process of decaying and dying. The choice is yours.

Fifth Step: Spend Time with the Person You Want to Be

Spending time with the person you want to be is the process of reading that profile you’ve written about yourself, every day.

Write down the kind of person you really want to be and invest enough time with the description and those characteristics that you begin to become like that person.

The more time we spend with people, the more we become like them.

You are responsible for the kind of life you live, for the image you have of yourself. But the good news is, you are not locked into any image of the past. You can change and be the best you that you were created to be.

You will leave this earth someday a bit better or a bit worse for your living. You must accept the responsibility that is inherent in your greatness.

DO IT UNTIL

“I will until.”

How long do we continue to learn our business or profession? Until we’ve learned it. How long do we continue to work toward a goal? Until we reach it.

If there is one quality that is possessed by the achievers of the world it is persistence.

Every person is given situations in life which either conquer him—or he conquers them.

Persistence can turn adversity into greatness.

Ladder to Your Dreams

“The first rung is determination! (Persistence!)
The second rung is dedication!
The third rung is discipline!
And the fourth rung is attitude!”

Release the Power within You

When you know from the outset “I will do it,” then you can concentrate all your time, energy, and talents on doing it now, instead of joining the great debate team with yourself.

Lack of persistence is one of the major causes of failure, and yet it is evident that it is a weakness which permeates the human race.

A temporary setback is not a total knockout.
If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through.

DO IT ANYHOW

“Do what needs to be done when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.”

“This is the way, walk in it.” It’s not an attitude that approaches with the clenched fist of demand, but with the open hand of love which reaches out to say, ‘’Come on, follow me. I’ll show you the way.”

One of the greatest gifts we can give to our children is consistent and certain discipline.

When we are small, we have no self-discipline; it has to be learned.

We can’t separate discipline and desire. If the desire is strong enough, if it is burning within you to achieve a goal, the discipline can be developed.

Begin with Those Things You Can Control

Will You Pay the Price?

There’s a price to be paid for success in any area of life.

We cannot do everything at once; but we can do something at once.

Do It Anyhow

Self-discipline is doing what needs to be done, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.

What are your challenges of self-discipline?

If you have been (or will be) smart enough to develop priorities and a value structure that incorporate the wisdom of self-discipline, then you can live with the finest of all motivation, the proper inner attitude!
You will know, as every self-disciplined person knows, there is always a price to pay for success, but it is never as great as the price you pay for failure!

SOME VERVE!

“Put everything you’ve got into everything you do.”

Enthusiasm can be taught, and when it is, it will be caught.

Emerson said that nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is one of the key attitudes for success.

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek en theos and literally means “God in us.” Enthusiasm is an attitude, a way of life.

You’ve probably heard, ‘’To be enthusiastic, act enthusiastic.’’

You don’t have to jump up and down or wave a flag to be enthusiastic. It is an inward attitude which shows in your face, your voice, and the movements of your body.

Step One to Enthusiasm: Do Your Homework

One of the keys to enthusiasm is to learn about the thing you aren’t enthusiastic about.

Enthusiasm is developed by finding out about the person, the subject, or the place. David Schwartz in his book, The Magic of Thinking Big, calls it the “dig-into-it-deeper technique.”

To be enthusiastic, fall in love with your subject.

Step Two to Enthusiasm: Do It with Verve

Enthusiasm shows in everything we do.

The way a person walks and stands shows confidence or insecurity. A confident attitude will attract others and inspire them. Walk and move with verve!

Next, put verve in your handshake. The person with the cold fish handshake probably has a low self-esteem.

Put verve in your smile.

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity.

When you give the smile, someone will smile back at you. It’s almost impossible to be worried and anxious when you ‘re smiling.

Put verve in your speech.

Stop for a moment or two right now and consider what would happen if you went to work tomorrow morning and with great enthusiasm declared for all to hear, “I am so excited to be here today . . . I could hardly wait to arrive. I am so charged with enthusiasm for my job I’m excited to begin! This is going to be a great day!’’

One sage said, “Don’t spend your days stringing and tuning your instrument—start making music now. ‘’

To be the person people want to be around, we need to be alive, enthusiastic people.

BELIEVE IT BEFORE YOU SEE IT

‘’Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

I know, as so many do, that faith is an absolute necessity. Faith is the essential ingredient in all of the principles we have listed.

The principles are not on trial, but lack of faith in them will destroy their effectiveness.

Faith shouts the victory before the battle ever begins!

What makes man unique is the ability to believe, to have faith, to see the unseen; and that power to believe is man’s most powerful property. It is the best and brightest part of man.

Faith is the pillar of strength that allows men to achieve the impossible, reach the unattainable, and solve the unfathomable.

Not “If” but “When”

If we believe, all things are possible!

Psychologists have studied thousands of cases of people with all kinds of problems, and concluded that people are starved for recognition.

When we believe in others, we make them feel important.

Acceptance is an important ingredient in believing in others.

If people were accepted by their mates, their parents, their business associates, they would find it easier to accept themselves and be on the way to self-improvement.

Faith Is Total Commitment

Faith is not a complete concept unless accompanied by action. Faith makes a difference. When we believe, we are willing to do things to make that commitment.

“Do it now!”

There comes a point in time when you must move, act, do, perform, work, labor, toil—advance. Action is the key.

The most exquisite dream in all the world will remain a dream unless someone gets into motion to make it happen.

We’ve got to believe in our dreams, but we also have to act upon them.

One of the most difficult aspects of actualizing a goal, seeing a dream become reality, is beginning. It’s the law of inertia.

Results demand action, and goal-oriented people know that action—action now—is the only way their goals are going to be achieved.

One of the greatest energy drains is procrastination. It is a thief that steals our dreams, our ambition, and our success.

Tired Is a State of Mind

Anything you can do, or think you can, begin it. Once started, the mind grows heated. Begin the job and the work will be completed.

Tomorrow sounds so innocent, but it is life’s most dangerous word.
Tomorrow is the road that leads to the town called NEVER.

Procrastination and frustration are wicked partners.

I don’t want to frighten you, but, dynamic living requires work.

Henry Ford said, ‘’Work does more than get us our living, it gets us our life.”

There is no great excitement and pleasure in having nothing to do; the joy of life is in having lots to do and doing it.

I’m not saying one needs to be a “workaholic” or take “guilt trips” at times of leisure. Balance is the key. But right now we’re talking about action.

Each of us will discover an exciting surge of energy by doing those things we have been putting off.

Now is the time! Do it now!

We harvest the words we plant. Someone has said, ‘’Words once spoke can never be recalled.”

Words are strong people-movers. Emerson said, “Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”

‘’Whatever you speak out of your mouth will happen, so watch out what you say!” We’re talking about your words.

Whatever you begin focusing on is what you speak. The spoken words reinforce the image in your mind and ultimately that mental picture may become reality.

Little Things Mean a Lot

In fact, the unwillingness to see the power of the insignificant phrase or individual word keeps the vast majority of us from controlling our tongues and our lives!

We allow words to slip out of our mouths which are such well worn clichés that we fail to realize their impact. For instance, “She makes me sick!” Does she really? Who makes you sick?

Saying that someone makes you sick or makes you angry will result in what you say.

Whom Do You Talk To?

Every day we are allowing words to tumble out of our mouths which are nudging the very things we don’t want into existence.

Many of us have been making negative statements of faith for so long that we have been speaking into existence those things we do not want.

‘’ls that what you want? Then why say it?’’

When we make positive statements and say them over and over again, we’ll begin to believe them. When we begin to believe it, we’ll begin to see it.

What do you talk about all the time?

Honestly, undefensively, examine your patterns of speech today.

He who masters his words will master his works.

Say what you want. Speak it into existence. The principle of command is a life-changing concept.

“Get a clear mental picture of what you want, infuse it with emotion, and hold onto it.’’

You have the power of visualization within you to enable you to have what you want.

Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Unleash Your Creativity

Our creative ability, our imagination, is tremendously important when we talk about the principle of visualization.

We are more capable, have more talent and ability than we think we have.

So many times we doubt our abilities and potential, particularly in the area of creative imagination. We have within us the creative ability to visualize what we want.

Practice in Your Imagination

One of the really exciting discoveries of current brain research and human motivational studies has shown that for practical purposes an imagined, visualized experience is almost the same as the real thing.

On a Clear or Cloudy Day the Vision Is Great

Those who see the invisible can do the impossible. When the invisible goals are visualized and injected with enthusiasm, emotion, and specific descriptions, the power of the principle of visualization is displayed.

When challenges face us, as they do every day, to be able to visualize where we are going, what it is we want, will give us one more method of motivation to carry us forward.

Emotion in a Picture

If there is something you want, cut out pictures and put them on your refrigerator, the bedroom mirror, or your dashboard.

Will these principles work for you? The only ideas that will work for you are the ones you put to work.

Get a clear mental picture of what you want, infuse it with emotion, and hold onto it.

“Decide what it is that you want, define it clearly and specifically, and write it down.”

Children are dreamers and wishers. Before their imaginations are stifled by parents, their peers, or the realities of the world, they are able to weave magic out of the fabrics of imagination.

What Is Your Burning Desire?

What do we really want? Many of us have desires, but are afraid to face them for different reasons. Some of us are afraid because we don’t think we can do it.

What are we afraid to try? Some are afraid to try because they are afraid to fail. So what? Get up and try again!

The successful person is always willing to risk failure.

The only way we can grow is to keep stretching our capacities. Move out of those comfort zones; do things we’ve never done before. Don’t be afraid to feel that burning desire.

Decide what it is you want. Don’t decide what somebody else wants for you, it’s not their responsibility. What do you want? The first step in the principle of creation is to decide what it is you want.

Second Step: Principle of Creation

After you decide what you want, define it clearly and specifically.

The power of clearly defined goals is well documented in human experience.

Third Step: Principle of Creation

First, decide what you want. Second, define it clearly. Third, write it down.

Here’s the next challenge for you: take a three-by-five-inch card and write down a list of ten things you want to happen to you in the next year.

When you have written down the ten things you want in the next year, read them every morning and every night—every morning and every night.

Right now I challenge you to write down ten things you would like to happen to you in the next year. Don’t worry about how they are going to happen. Don’t try to figure it out. Just write them down and read your list every morning and every night and you will discover that it will happen for you as it happens for others.

“Get rid of what you don’t want to make room for what you do want.”

Emotionally we are attached to attitudes more strongly than we are to material possessions. We have built up habitual patterns of thought about many things. These habit patterns have become our attitudes.

“Neurons, then, carrying repetitive thought patterns have the power through transfer of ‘identification tags’ to involve more and more neurons in their habitual activity”

In other words, negative attracts negative, positive attracts positive.

Except for yourself, your spouse, or your children, you need to move away from the negative people whose attitudes will tear you down.

The second area where we need to wage war is in the realm of what we watch.

Subliminal advertising is a powerful tool to program your mind.

The music we hear imprints lasting impressions upon our minds and attitudes.

It has been scientifically proven in controlled experiments that you can take a living plant, control the atmosphere, feeding and watering, and yet its growth will be determined by the music in its environment.

Be careful about the music you hear. if you decide to listen, at least do it with full knowledge of how you are being programmed.

What music do you hear when people talk to you, or when you talk to yourself?

Listen to these words that fortify your self-image; hear the image-makers and turn a deaf ear to the image-breakers.

We should be as careful of the books we read as we are of the company we keep, and the music we hear.

We need to control what goes into the subconscious mind, because it is limited in its ability to perform by the raw materials that we give it.

The principle of exclusion says, “Get rid of what you don’t want to make room for what you want.”