What Are You Thinking?

"First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination." -- Napoleon Hill

It all begins with a thought -- but it is what happens afterward that makes the difference. While we literally have thousands of thoughts on any given day, we must ask ourselves; what is the significance of those thoughts and are they serving to help or hinder our efforts to lead a successful life. In previous posts, we've discussed the importance of thinking positive in order to give the subconscious mind its blueprint for action. But how many times do we really decide to take definitive action on a conscious thought? This post is an example of taking action on a thought that passed through my head as I was preparing to get out of bed. "If it all begins with a thought, where can it go from there?"

In his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill outlines the power of our thoughts in transforming desire into reality. But, he clearly indicates that the thought itself will not necessarily bring it to fruition. We must have the courage and the persistence to take focused action and be willing to risk failure after failure to achieve what we first merely believed. This is what went through my head during my morning reflection:

"It all begins with a thought, which then becomes a desire, which then becomes a burning passion, which then becomes a definite decision, which then becomes an all-consuming purpose, which then becomes a meaningful mission, which then becomes a step of faith and hope, which then becomes journey, which then produces a result, which in turn impacts lives, which in turn changes destinies, and finally -- cements a lasting legacy for he or she who merely had the thought."

Of the some 70,000 thoughts you have today, will one of them motivate you to make a decision to take an action step in the direction of your passionate purpose and ultimately fulfill your God-given mission that will leave a permanent legacy for you, your family, your community, your country, and your world? It all begins with a thought.

So, what do you think?

What's In Your Tank?

“What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing.” ~ Aristotle

As I meet and continue to work with people on a daily basis, I always ask about their dreams and deepest desires. Ultimately I will hear something like; "I just want to help people" or "I want to make a difference in the lives of others". It seems to be a common theme within the human spirit. But often, when I ask them how they would do it, a look of surprise or concern comes over their face -- followed by something like; "I'm not really sure".

In most cases, I truly believe that people want to help others or make a difference in the world -- but I'm also convinced that they really don't know how because there is not a fresh and streaming source of helpful information coming into their lives. It's kind of like going all day without eating. As much as you want to be helpful and attentive to what people around you are saying; your mind is only on the empty stomach and the weakened feeling you're experiencing. In short, your tank is empty -- and truth be told, your disposition may not be the best for the task at hand. You may even reach for some junk food to bridge the gap. Often, you'll feel even worse from the effect of the empty calories.

So, wouldn't it be just as true for our minds and hearts? Without a daily intake of positive and life-changing information, how can we expect to help others be more, have more, or reframe their thinking? What about the "junk food" of the mind? When our only daily intake is coming from the news media, social media, and negative co-workers or relatives, what is our mind and what is our heart going to produce? Junk! The Bible says: "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh" (Luke 6:45).

If our true motivation or desire is to help others, then we cannot do so from an empty or polluted tank. We need to resolve to fill our reservoir with good, useful, positive, uplifting information that is grounded in truth. We need to be filled first so that out of our abundance our mind and heart overflow with helpful conversation, information, and encouragement. Simply put; you can't give what you don't have.

Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.