FORMULA for SUCCESS
You could say that this is "A" formula for success but, friend, I'd go so far as to say that this is THE formula for success.
I don't claim full responsibility for the statement you see in the graphic above. Yes, it is from my "power board" (see the last blog article) and it is in my handwriting and I did put those thoughts together. However, it is a combination of thoughts that I have read over the years from several different people...I just put it together in my own words.
This goes along closely with the blog article from yesterday in which this thought from Jim Rohn was shared: "The major key to your better future is you!"
Again, it has to start with the understanding that it is totally up to and dependent upon YOU and your decisions (and actions). Now then, here we go - THIS is how you get "there"!
As asked yesterday, "Do you want a better future?" And, I'll ask this closely related question today: "Do you want to change your life?"
If either of these are a "YES!" (and we pretty much saw that the answer to the first question is always "YES"!) then understand that THIS process is how you get there. However, you should also understand that, as you look at this formula, there are still a lot of "how-to's" that you won't find here. That is where YOU come in. That is where YOUR ability to think and apply comes into place.
Let's break this down and look at it a little closer. Ready?
1. Change Your Beliefs and you Change Your Behaviors
So much of you having a "better future" and of "changing your life" begins with changing your beliefs. Actually, EVERY BIT OF THIS PROCESS begins with changing your beliefs. It's all about changing the way that you think!
No, that doesn't mean that you have to change your core belief system about things such as God but, at the same time, it may mean that you DO change the way that you view things about what is and isn't pleasing to God. Let me clarify. Many people have a deeply instilled belief that God does not want them to be wealthy or "rich". This deeply rooted belief hinders their mindset when that person decides that they want a better future. For one, please note that the Bible does NOT say that money is the root of all evil. Nope. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It goes on to say that this type of attitude towards money leads to greediness!
I won't go into all that I could go into, but, again, this is just an example of some THINKING that may have to be changed and adapted. Bottom line on this part is that GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOU! Think about this: the more you have the more you can do and the more people you can help.
But, the need to change your belief goes beyond this. For whatever reason, most people tend to believe that they don't DESERVE something better for their lives. That is another thought pattern that MUST be changed in order to move forward toward your better, changed life.
KNOW THIS: On all of these steps but, especially, on this first KEY step - it's not easy! This process takes a long time but you can still make progress as you CONTINUE to work on changing your beliefs. Remember, "change your beliefs and you change your behaviors" or, put another way: "Change the way you THINK and you begin to change the way you ACT!"
2. Change Your Behaviors and you Change Your Results
Here's a very simple example that you can use to help see that this is true and applicable. It doesn't matter if it is someone playing golf, basketball, baseball, football, hockey or ANY sport - if they find themselves in a "slump" in some area of their game, they will examine what they ARE doing and likely find that they have slipped into some bad habit which has led to their poor results. They will then CHANGE THIS HABIT (change their behavior) and, eventually, this will lead to changed and better results.
When you begin to change the way you THINK you begin to change the way you ACT. When you begin to change the way you ACT, you begin to change the RESULTS that you are getting!
Apply that to ANY area of your life and you will find it to be true. Just improving your outlook and attitude will change the way you act and, as a result, change the way most people react toward you. And, as a direct result, this will usually lead to different (and better) results in our relationships and all things related to those improved relationships.
Make sense? Yes, again, this is something that takes effort and time, but you can begin that process TODAY, right where you are. I think it was Zig Ziglar that said, "You don't have to be great to start but you have to START in order to be great!"
3. Change Your Results and you Change Your Life
This is really a "common sense" formula, isn't it? When you begin to change the way that you THINK, you begin to change the way that you ACT. When you begin to change the way that you ACT, you then begin to change your RESULTS. And, friend, when you change your RESULTS you absolutely begin to CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Please don't become discouraged when I tell you that this is a life-long process. It never ends and you never get to the point that you have "arrived" and can stop this process.
Instead of becoming discouraged just simply understand that when you stop growing, YOU DIE! Life is a journey, right? Every day is a new day with new challenges and new experiences And, just when you think you have things "figured out" life can through you a "curve ball" and challenge everything you thought you had "figured out"!
But that's what makes living a JOY! Experiencing these things in your life let's you know that you are ALIVE and that you are a PART of this journey! I can't stress that enough. The ups and downs in life are a PART of life but, you can change your mindset and thoughts to the point that you begin to handle your RESPONSE to these ups and downs in a better way.
Jack Canfield shares this formula along this line: E + R = O, which stands for EVENT + RESPONSE = OUTCOME. We all have "events" in our lives. These are the UPS and these are the DOWNS that we all experience. But, according to Mr. Canfield (and according to life's experiences) do you want to know what determines the OUTCOME of those "events" that we all experience? That's right, OUR response! How YOU respond to those events will determine your outcome.
All of these things work together but, friend, notice the word "work". It takes EFFORT and it takes a DECISION on your part.
So, yeah...here we are again. It all comes down to YOU.
You are the only one that can decide to start making the changes in this formula that can change and improve your life and the life of those that you love. No one else can do it for you and sitting around and complaining and whining will never accomplish anything. EVER.
I'll encourage you any way that I can, friend...so let's take this journey TOGETHER!
And, as you do so, whatever you do, always be sure to...
