I have been reading a lot about thoughts and attitude as I prepare for the next Live! Workshop, entitled, What You Think is What You Get. I have learned many helpful hints during the past few years as I experienced personal growth due to a great deal of reading books and listening to motivational materials. The value of thoughts and mindset is definitely one of the most impressive. As Henry Ford said, “whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

I’ve been reviewing John Mason’s book, Expect to Win, today. He states, “Be careful of your thoughts. They may become words at any moment and actions very soon.” It is true that what we think about will become evident to others. Have you met someone who is negative and complains a lot? That person is focusing on what he doesn’t have instead of what he does. When you want to change your attitude, change your thoughts. Yes, I realize that is easier said than done, but it works and is more than worth the effort.

I have been encouraged to envision in my mind what I want. For example, if I want to confidently present at a meeting, it is helpful to practice and see myself succeeding. The mind is much more powerful than we can understand. Zig Ziglar said, “What you picture in your mind, your mind will go to work to accomplish. When you change your pictures you automatically change your performance.” It isn’t that we can think ourselves into a situation, but that when we begin to see it, we begin to believe it is possible, so we then begin to do it.

This fact strongly reinforces the importance of self-talk. How often do we make a mistake and then say to ourselves, whether silently or verbally, “what is wrong with you? or what a dumb thing to do.” It is imperative that we recognize how much those “little negatives” influence our actions! John Mason puts it this way, “Whatever you attach consistently to the words, ‘I am,’ you will become.”

What are you becoming?