Written more than five decades ago, Norman Vincent Peale’s book The Power of Positive Thinking contains wisdom that can still be applied in our lives today. The book contains many stories and illustrations of how people’s lives dramatically improved after they changed their way of thinking. Rather than giving in to the struggles in life, these people overcame their issues through faith and changing their frame of mind.
You get what you expect.
According to the author, “It is a well-defined and authentic principle that what the mind profoundly expects it tends to receive.” In other words, if you think you are going to fail, you likely will. The good news is that if you believe that you will succeed, you likely will.
Your thinking affects your whole life.
The way we think about ourselves and the world will determine how well we perform in life. Whether we realize it or not, it is our attitude towards life which is far more important than our circumstances. You may be struggling financially and think it will never end, but don’t give up hope. Instead, believe that you will find a way to get back on your feet again.
See all your challenges through a positive lens.
Although your current financial struggles may be very real obstacles in your life right now, they may not be as bad as they seem. We often make “a mountain out of a molehill” and it is important to have faith so you can see past those hurdles. Be sure to have a positive mental attitude and you will be equipped to face the challenges ahead of you.
An example of the power of the mind that Peale told from his own experience was a time when he went golfing with a friend who was both a philosopher and an avid golfer. Peale hit a ball into the rough where there was some tall grass. His immediate response to this was that it would be difficult to make his next shot. His wise friend, however, made him see things differently. He had him look closely at the situation and made him see that the grass was actually very fine and that it wouldn’t prevent him from making a good shot after all. With this new perspective on the situation, Peale was able to make a clean shot. His wise friend reminded him that “The rough is only mental … it is rough because you think it is.”
Staying positive through the tough times is the key.
Peale’s own experiences as well as those of many others recounted in his book show time and time again the importance of staying positive. The way he taught others to stay positive was to read and meditate on the Word of God and to memorize the Bible verses that talk about faith, power, and overcoming fear. He encouraged others to always acknowledge God as the source of their energy and strength each day.
Spend time with positive people.
No matter who you talk to, you can bet that most people will admit that they’d around hang around people who are positive most of the time, rather than negative. Just as positive thinking can be contagious, so too can negative thinking. If you are a person who actually wants to be successful in your life, with your finances as well as in other areas, then I suggest you start hanging with the positive crowd and start to consciously steer your thoughts and words in the positive direction as well.
Believe that anything is possible.
Many famous people got to be famous because they believed that they could become successful – you too can follow in their footsteps – by becoming successful in at least one area of your life, by changing the way that you think. There is most definitely something to be said about the power of positive thinking.
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