Your thoughts determine the quality of your life. As simple as this sounds, it is the gospel truth. If you change your DOMINANT thoughts, you can transform your life like night and day. American theologian Tryon Edward commented, “Thoughts lead on to purposes, purposes go forth in action, action forms habits, habits decide character and character fixes our destiny.”
All innovations and inventions have one fundamental thing in common: they are products of thoughts. Recall those things you consistently thought about to improve your wellbeing in the last five years that you went ahead to take consistent actions on, and you will find out that they are part of your life now.
Man has moved quickly to the era of efficiency and effectiveness through thought. Think about it, how would transportation have been easy without airplanes, ships, trains and cars? How would communication have been without phones, Internet, or fax? How much fun would there have been without television, radio, computer, satellite link, or social media? How much information would you have had without books, newspapers, magazines, or electronic media? How much quality of life would we have had without electricity, medicines and sewage system?
The genesis of all inventions is thought. The most interesting aspect of thought is that as long as you can think about something, you can achieve it. Thought is an unstoppable instrument bestowed on all human beings; but if it is not well channelled, it leads to failure.
We have positive thoughts and negative thoughts. What shapes our life positively is to develop the habit of positive thinking. Negative thoughts lead to negative actions and negative results. On the other hand, positive thoughts lead to positive emotions which give rise to positive actions and results.
Your thoughts shape your life in a significant way, whether you aware or not. Do your own thinking; do not be a rubber stamp which puts the same imprint on every type of surface. Even modern rubber stamps, with their alterable interface (for instance, date stamps can be configured to reflect the current date) still serve the singular purpose of giving official approval as a mere matter of routine.
Until you do your thinking and navigate your life from your thoughts, you may not achieve your full potential. Your creator has bestowed on you the thought faculty, ability, blueprints and intuition you need to solve problems, create solutions, chart a path, set goals, take action, change course as necessary, and achieve anything you set your mind on. Your greatness lies in your thoughts – how well you are utilising it.
Learn to control your thoughts, then you can you control your destiny. American essayist and lecturer, Ralph Waldo Emerson remarked, “It is impossible for man to be cheated by anyone but himself.”
Our best friends and worst enemies are the thoughts we have about ourselves. The enemy is not outside of us, it is within. Our self-imposed limitations which are products of our thoughts are the greatest battle we must defeat if we are keen of achieving our full potential and maximizing our one shot at life. Norman Vincent Peale advised, “Do not build obstacles in your mind.”
As a man thinketh in his heart, so he becomes. Think about your environment. Think about new ideas and new approach to things. Think about what you want, not what you don’t want. Think about how you can achieve your goals, not the challenges you are facing. Think about progress, success, happiness, and greatness all the time.
For you to be great, you must cultivate the habit of positive thinking, and you must scrupulously observe and carefully scrutinise things. Eddie Rickenbancher encourages, “Think positively and masterfully. With confidence and faith, life becomes secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.”
Your thought can never be defeated. As long as you have the confidence and faith to back it up, it will become a reality. H. F. Dunning wrote, “All the training programmes in the world, all the congenial climates in which to work, all the opportunities and challenges that can be put, will not amount to a thinker’s clan, unless the individual does the basic thinking, makes the basic application of his energy and does 95 per cent of the so-called development job himself.” Who knows, your thought may be what will pioneer man to a better life. So start thinking– positively.
Barack Obama thought of becoming the first African-American President and he achieved it. Nelson Mandela thought of uniting the black and white population in South Africa and he did. Mike Zuckenberg thought of connecting the world on social media platforms and he accomplished it. Mike Adenuga thought of building an Africa telecommunications giant company and he did it.
Thomas Edison thought of lighting up every home in the world and he actualised it. Michael Jordan thought of becoming the greatest basketball player in history and he made it happen. Wole Soyinka thought of becoming a literary icon and he won the Nobel Laureate.
Thought is the beginning of greatness. But thoughts must be backed up with actions; actions with consistency; consistency with perseverance; perseverance with commitment – if you want to achieve greatness and enjoy its numerous benefits.
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Therefore, if you think you are blessed, you are blessed. If you think you are highly favoured, you are highly favoured. If you think it will be well, it will be well. If you think otherwise too, you are right. So be wise and think positive all the time.
ACTION PLAN: Focus your thoughts on what you want, not what you don’t want. Be aware of your thought pattern; when a negative thought come to your mind, immediately change it to positive thought.
AFFIRMATION: I think positively, creatively and masterfully. I am blessed and highly favoured.
