abigya
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Mind over Matter
by Dr. John C. Maxwell
THE WAY YOU THINK DETERMINES THE PERSON YOU WILL BECOME
Athletes from across the world are counting down the days until the 2008 Olympics in Beijing later this year. If you watched any of the events four years ago, you probably observed the incredible focus the medalists displayed during their event. Sure they are fast and strong, but above all they must be mentally prepared for anything that comes their way.
Flip Darr, a former collegiate and Olympic swimming coach says, “I felt in my coaching career that if I would work on [the swimmers’] head, their bodies would come along. A lot of coaches work on their bodies and then at the last moment try to do their heads. The thing is, if they are working with their heads all the time, and working with their head over the body—mind over matter—they will have more confid¬ence when they walk up to the block.”
Proverbs 23:7 says as he thinks in his heart, so is he. There is great value in the art of good thinking. For the athletes, the ability to physically perform is important, but preparing for the biggest race of one’s life is as much mental as it is physical—start good thinking right now!
When you get up in the morning, make a decision about the kind of person you want to be. If you want to be good, happy, productive, positive and encouraging, then think on these things. Don’t allow negativity and stress to encompass your thoughts. The specific thoughts that increase your effectiveness as a leader might not be the same as those required for Olympic medals, but the overall commitment to thinking is identical.
There are five things that you need to under¬stand about the importance of solid thinking:
Everything begins with a thought.
Every great invention, every technique, every conversation, every leadership practice and every bit of personal growth starts in someone’s head.
What we think determines who we are, and who we are determines what we do.
What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want to accomplish in your life and career? Are your thoughts paving the way for you to achieve those goals or are they getting in the way?
Our thoughts determine our destiny, and our destiny determines our legacy.
That’s pretty sobering, especially for those of us who have already passed life’s halfway point. The good news is that, no matter how old you are, it’s not too late for good thinking to influence your legacy in a positive way. This quote by James Allen says it well: “You are today where your thoughts have brought you, and you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”
People who go to the top think differently than others.
There are many reasons for this, but it’s absolutely true! As William Arthur Ward said, “Nothing limits achievement like small thinking, and nothing expands possibilities like unleashed thinking.”
We can change the way we think!
This is a comforting thought, especially in light of the previous statement. One of the best ways to change the way we think is to invest in resources that help us improve our leadership methods, our relationships, our technical competencies, our time-management skills, our ability to handle conflict, and so on. Over the years, I have been helped tremendously by books and tapes that cover such issues. They boost my thoughts and add great value to my life.
The bottom line is this: When it comes to success in life, the ability to think well isn’t just an asset; it’s a necessity. So if you want to be a leader—think like a leader. Invite success into your life by practicing good thinking.
by Dr. John C. Maxwell
THE WAY YOU THINK DETERMINES THE PERSON YOU WILL BECOME
Athletes from across the world are counting down the days until the 2008 Olympics in Beijing later this year. If you watched any of the events four years ago, you probably observed the incredible focus the medalists displayed during their event. Sure they are fast and strong, but above all they must be mentally prepared for anything that comes their way.
Flip Darr, a former collegiate and Olympic swimming coach says, “I felt in my coaching career that if I would work on [the swimmers’] head
Proverbs 23:7 says as he thinks in his heart, so is he. There is great value in the art of good thinking. For the athletes, the ability to physically perform is important, but preparing for the biggest race of one’s life is as much mental as it is physical—start good thinking right now!
When you get up in the morning, make a decision about the kind of person you want to be. If you want to be good, happy, productive, positive and encouraging, then think on these things. Don’t allow negativity and stress to encompass your thoughts. The specific thoughts that increase your effectiveness as a leader might not be the same as those required for Olympic medals, but the overall commitment to thinking is identical.
There are five things that you need to under¬stand about the importance of solid thinking:
Everything begins with a thought.
Every great invention, every technique, every conversation, every leadership practice and every bit of personal growth starts in someone’s head.
What we think determines who we are, and who we are determines what we do.
What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want to accomplish in your life and career? Are your thoughts paving the way for you to achieve those goals or are they getting in the way?
Our thoughts determine our destiny, and our destiny determines our legacy.
That’s pretty sobering, especially for those of us who have already passed life’s halfway point. The good news is that, no matter how old you are, it’s not too late for good thinking to influence your legacy in a positive way. This quote by James Allen says it well: “You are today where your thoughts have brought you, and you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”
People who go to the top think differently than others.
There are many reasons for this, but it’s absolutely true! As William Arthur Ward said, “Nothing limits achievement like small thinking, and nothing expands possibilities like unleashed thinking.”
We can change the way we think!
This is a comforting thought, especially in light of the previous statement. One of the best ways to change the way we think is to invest in resources that help us improve our leadership methods, our relationships, our technical competencies, our time-management skills, our ability to handle conflict, and so on. Over the years, I have been helped tremendously by books and tapes that cover such issues. They boost my thoughts and add great value to my life.
The bottom line is this: When it comes to success in life, the ability to think well isn’t just an asset; it’s a necessity. So if you want to be a leader—think like a leader. Invite success into your life by practicing good thinking.
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