“Thinking is hard work. That is why so few people ever attempt it!” – Henry Ford
Yes, thinking is hard work, but if you want to change your self-image, your course in life, or experience confidence in what you do, you have to practice the art of thinking. The thinking I’m talking about is not just the rehearsing of “facts” you have been given in your past – that is what people typically call thinking. No, the kind of thinking I’m talking about is digging deeply into your subconscious and allowing insight to come to you. This is what those who have become great have done. Thomas Edison said that most of the thoughts that lead to new inventions just came into his mind, as if someone placed them there.
I realize that most of us believe we are not creative, but that is a contradiction. You were created in the image of God, and He is very creative. So are you, when you allow yourself to imagine. Careful here. We can imagine things that are helpful and things that are harmful, so be aware and weigh the thoughts that come into your imagination. As Billy Graham said, “You can’t help what bird flies over your head, but you can choose which one builds a nest in your hair!” You have values of right and wrong, and you have desires about who you want to be. So, choose to focus on those thoughts which are in harmony with that.
Now, in my experience, it is common to dismiss those “imaginings” as unrealistic. Yet, you think them so only because you’ve never attempted to prove them true. When we think of doing something new, we often experience fear. Fear of failure, because we refuse to believe we can do the job. We feel inferior to the image we have in our mind, or we may experience fear of success, because we don’t believe we are worthy of it, or because we are unwilling to make the sacrifices required to achieve the goal/dream.
Being transparent, my own experience tends more toward fear of success! I’ve come to “see” that that fear is generated by past experiences of success that others responded negatively toward. This is not to blame them, not at all. When a person starts improving and having success, those close to the person will naturally tend to discourage them. Why? Because if you are succeeding and making the hard choices, those around you will feel threatened. BUT, it is your life, and only you can decide whether you will grow or not. Just be forewarned.
In your thinking, see what could be; see why it should be; commit to do all you can to make it happen; and allow the How to come to you – maybe in your thoughts, or perhaps through the thoughts of others.
Over the last few years, I have taken residence in a Bible verse that may be of help to you in this journey. The verse was written by the Apostle Paul – a man who accomplished what most in his day would say was impossible. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us – Ephesians 3:20 (emphasis is mine).
Care to Imagine? What could your life be? What could you do? As Albert Einstein said,”There is nothing that is a more certain sign of insanity than to do the same thing over and over and expect the results to be different.” As my mentor and friend Les Brown says, Don’t say it is going to happen unless you truly believe that. You need to live with integrity. But, you can start by saying, It is possible.
Next week we will move on to the “E” in my S.T.E.P.S. toward Maximizing Your Potential. Thank you for following, and until next time – Make your days GREAT!
Danny
PS – I apologize for the few weeks I was out of commission on the Blog. My wife’s Father died on Dec. 17 – this after her Mother’s death on October 1. So, we have been a bit sidetracked for a while with that, and then the Christmas Holidays. But now I’m Back (say that with an Austrian accent, imagine Arnold as the Terminator, and smile. See you next week.