Are You Thinking?

Part 3

A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances.

If you would perfect your body, guard your mind.

With those who have lived righteously, age is calm, peaceful, and softly mellowed, like the setting sun.

To live continually in thought of ill will, cynicism, suspicion, and envy, is to be confined in a self-made prison hole.

A man should make his purpose the centralizing point of his thoughts.

…strength of character gained will be the measure of his true success…

…so the man of weak thoughts can make them strong by exercising himself in right thinking.

The will to do springs from the knowledge that we can do.

He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure.

All a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts.

As a man thinks, so is he; as he continues to think, so he remains.

He who has control of his thoughts is FREE!

…he is limited only by the thoughts which he chooses.

Are You Thinking?

As a man thinketh - James Allen
Part 2

Negative / Bad / impure thoughts -
Bestial thought crystallize into habits of drunkenness and sensuality, which solidify into circumstances of destitution and disease.
Impure thought of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances.
Thoughts of fear, doubt, and indecision crystallize into weak, unmanly, and irresolute habits which solidify into circumstances of failure, indigence, and slavish dependence.
Lazy thought crystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of foulness and beggary.
Hateful and condemnatory thought crystallize into habits of accusations and violence, which solidify into circumstances of injury and persecution.
Selfish thought of all kinds crystallize into habits of self-seeking which solidify into circumstances more or less distressing.

Positive / good / pure thoughts
Beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances.
Pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of reprose and peace.
Thought of courage, self-reliance, and decision crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom.
Energetic thought crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness.
Gentle and forgiving thoughts crystallize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into protective and preservative circumstances.
Loving and unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of self-forgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.

Are You Thinking?

As a man thinketh - James Allen
Part 1

- that man is the master of thought, the molder of character, and the maker and shaper of condition, environment, and destiny.

Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.

Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are.

Thought and action are the jailers of Fate – they imprison, being base; they are also the angels of Freedom – they liberate, being noble.

A man’s wishes and prayers are only gratified and answered when they harmonize with his thoughts and actions.

Blessedness, not material possessions, is the measure of right thought; wretchedness, not the lack of material possessions, is the measure of wrong thought.

Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot:

When You Need to Give a Talk

Dani Johnson shares some good ideas when you need to give a talk.
Whenever you are making a presentation:
1. Build “me too’s”
My past, failures, dysfunctional home, person listening says, “me too.”
2. An amateur sees event as a one shot deal
A professional sees the event as the bridge to a long term relationship
3. Smile – you’re more attractive when you smile 
4. Testimonials – when you share testimonials you are framing the mind of your prospect.
5. You Must Edify –
It shows the environment is good and motivating

IF YOU GET DEFENSIVE – YOU LOOSE!!!

Secret Code of Success (part 2)

3 Things I can do as a result of this chapter
1. Develop Top 10 Afformations
2. Develop Action Plan for @ Afformation
3. Share this concept with 3 friends (that would be YOU)

Stages of believing in yourself
1. The first stage is someone believes in you.
2. The second stage is you believe in someone else.
3. The final stage is you believe in you.

Interview Your Loving Mirrors and Safe Havens
1. What do you get out of me being in your life?
2. What have you gained from our relationship? Please be specific.
3. What would be missing if I weren’t in your life?
4. What do you see as my strengths?
5. What can I do differently to improve our relationship?
6. If there were one word or phrase you’d use to describe our relationship, what would it be?
7. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate our relationship?
8. If anything less than 10 – what can I do to make it a 10?

Great interview questions.
Pick up the book.
It ‘s worth the read.

I would appreciate your prayers as I seek to launch “Main Street Motivation, LLC” as a way to spread the “Message” to corporations and non-profit entities.

Mike
Heb. 10:24

The Secret Code of Success

I read several excellent books over the holidays. One of them was “The Secret Code of Success” by Noah St. John

In it he asked several questions that required much thought on my part. See what you think…

“But have you ever stopped to think about the Cost of actually allowing yourself to succeed?”
The Four Steps of Traditional Success Programs
1. Set your goals (Know what you want)
2. Do something (Take action toward your goals)
3. Evaluate (Am I getting closer to my goals or not)
4. Try Again (Adjust your approach until you reach your goals)

The Four Steps of the Real World
1. The Fog (We don’t know what we really want)
2. Treadmilling (We’re really really busy, but getting nowhere)
3. Feel Like a Failure (WE compare ourselves to everyone else and come up short)
4. Try Again (We keep trying and hoping things will be different)

Rather than making a statement (affirmations) you don’t believe…why not ask a QUESTION that can transform your life?

The Four Steps to Create Afformations that can Change Your Life
1. Ask yourself what you want?
2. Form a question that assumed that What You Want is already true.
3. Give Yourself to the Question
(the point in afformations does not lie in finding the answer, but in asking
better questions.)
4. Take new ACTIONS based on your new assumptions about life.

The point is to change what your mind automatically focuses on. Pg 71

I am enjoying the process of giving myself to asking of the questions, and automatically focusing on the right things.

John Mark's Lessons

I just listened to another leadership CD. I heard a leader say some years ago that if you continue to pump from the well without replenishing your supply, your well will run dry!

I refuse to run dry! Therefore, I purchase, CD, DVD’s, attend leadership conferences, and choose friends who can help me become the man of God, that the Lord Jesus wants me to be.

The CD I listened to was “Leadership Secrets from John Mark”. In it I learned:

1. Failure is part of life.

a. Admit it
b. Don’t blame others
c. Don’t have a pity party
d. Don’t live in shame for the rest of your life
e. Don’t be afraid to try again

2. Examine WHY we fail

a. Overconfidence
b. Unteachable
c. prayerlessness
d. Bad strategy or poor planning
e. Fear of risk or rejection
f. Associate with the wrong people

3. View Failure as a friend not a foe

4. Failure should be a mentor, not a monument

5. You never really fail until you quit

6. God often does His best work through people who once failed miserably!

The principle that really excited me was “View Failure as a friend not a foe.” WOW! If I can get my head around this one then failure becomes a step in success.

If you had all the money and all the time you needed, what would you accomplish? What would you do? What is your dream? I would love to share mine with you sometime. Shoot me a note to:

mknowl@bellsouth.net

and we will connect.

Dr. Mike