Sunday, January 30, 2005

It's all in a State of Mind

In 1957, Earl Nightingale recorded his classic record "The Strangest Secret". In that recording, Nightingale concluded that life's "strangest secret" is that “we become what we think about ”.

He emphasises that your subconscious doesn't judge or even question what you tell it; it merely accepts your thoughts as the truth. Think thoughts of defeat or failure and you're bound to feel discouraged. Continuous thoughts of worry, anxiety and fear are unhealthy and often manifest in the body as stress, panic attacks, depression and even illness.

Nightingale’s message reveals the incredible power of positive self-talk, belief and expectation. What you vividly imagine and hold in your subconscious mind begins to shape your reality. Your belief system not only defines your reality, but also your character and ultimately determines what happens to you.

Here is a wonderful poem that supports Nightingale's point.

If you think you are beaten, you are:
If you think you dare not, you won't
If you like to win, but don't think you can
It's almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost;
For out in the world you'll find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in a state of mind.

For many a game is lost,
Ere even a play is run,
And many a coward fails
Ere even his work begun.

Think big and your deeds will grow,
Think small and you'll fall behind;
Think that you CAN and you WILL;
It's all in a state of mind.

If you think you are out-classed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise;
You've got to be sure of yourself
before you can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the fellow who thinks he can.


Author Unknown