THE ENEMY OF SUCCESS

We are always responsible for everything we think, say,

do, or feel. We alone have the power to choose what happens to
us. Often, we shortchange ourselves because we believe we are
less than we actually are. We are the enemy!
It’s important to have faith in our abilities, to believe in
ourselves. Now, I’m not suggesting conceit—that rare disease
affecting everyone but the person who has it. Rather, I want to
build a reasonable confidence in your own power to reach your
goals. How can you do this? Success begins when we learn
what it takes to build a stronger self-concept.
We don’t perform according to our actual abilities. We
perform according to our perception of our abilities. Noted
psychologist, Dr. Joyce Brothers, in a Parade magazine article
says, “An individual’s self-concept is the core of their
personality. It affects every aspect of human behavior—the
ability to learn, the capacity to grow and change, the choice of
mates, friends, and career. It’s no exaggeration to say that a
strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for
success in life.”
Dr. Brothers is referring to the blueprint we have of our
abilities. We have our own perceived set of plans, our own
lifebuilding
code. Rarely do we question its validity. We follow the
plan and allow that blueprint to control every talent we have.
If possessing the right blueprint is so important, what can
we do to improve ourselves? Experts have many opinions but
there is a central theme in every theory—we must learn to
control the way we think! Earl Nightingale, in his classic audio
“The Strangest Secret,” concluded that we become what we think
about.
Our thoughts program our subconscious mind, the
storehouse of all impressions. The subconscious accepts, without
question, all thoughts received and stores them for future use.
By repeating thoughts often enough, we assemble the blueprint
for our belief system. Soon, right or wrong, our thoughts build
our reality and become a major influence on the construction of
our self-concept.
By properly controlling our thinking, we can eventually
correct falsely developed deficiencies and turn our negative
thinking around. By mastering our thoughts, we begin to master
our life. The end result of this process is a blueprint that we can
use to build a
strong house. All the huffing and puffing by the big bad wolf—
your wrong beliefs—will never blow your house down.
Don’t add difficulties to your life by fabricating a poor
self-concept of your abilities. Be a master architect working
from correctly drawn plans. That is the only way to complete
your house of success.