Note: I’ve been sitting on this post for a couple weeks. Life got busy and I wanted a chance to edit before I posted…
It just wasn’t like me. I’m usually pretty good at writing. Sure, I sometimes have trouble starting. But once I get going there is no stopping me.
Then there was today…
It was frustrating. All my usual tricks failed me. I tried to bypass the title and just get started. No go. I tried to start putting my thoughts down on paper. Usually this is enough to get the creative juices flowing…Nothing.
After spending two hours struggling…
It finally hit me. I was trying to force the topic. I was going from my list of ideas, but I just couldn’t get into it. I had something else on my mind.
I’ve been experimenting with positive thinking lately. I recently read “The Secret.” While the info was not profoundly in depth, it made me look at things from a different perspective.
Years of self help running from it
I’m extremely practical and down to earth. While I’ve read dozens of self help books, I have always been drawn to the practical aspects. Goal setting…bring it on! Taking responsibility…got it! Focusing on the important and ignoring the urgent…great idea! Visualization…not for me. Positive thinking…too touchy feely. Letting the “infinite universe” deliver what I needed…this is real life, not science fiction!
Over time I started working more and more on the internal skills. I explored my values. I learned what messages my negative emotions were sending. I began to see how visualization and meditation were skills that would be useful. I had avoided them because it was hard for me.
Then my wife get The Secret. To be blunt, it was nothing new. I’ve been reading Earl Nightingale and Napoleon Hill for years. Both were firm believers in having a vision, maintaining a positive attitude, and trusting God to help you find the way. The Secret just put it in a slightly different way.
I started with something simple, trusting God to make sure my projects didn’t implode while I was on vacation. I was pleased to see it worked even though I did not check emails or voice mails for a week.
I started making a concerted effort to find the positive in everything. I noticed a marked improvement in my results. Then I took this to the next level. I began viewing any crisis as an opportunity, and I told myself that it was a blessing in disguise.
Today I had a chance to test this
I have a customer who is in a bind. Due to delays (their fault) shipment slipped two months. This was putting them in a position where they would startup late costing them $26,000,000. No that was not a typo, and boy did I have a situation on my hands. All due to a $44,000 piece of equipment.
Then a miracle happened
I was utterly convinced that this was a blessing in disguise. As the day went on, thing began to shift. Keeping an open mind, we came up with a solution. We would supply a used piece of equipment to get them up and going. In two months, it would be swamped out by the equipment we were building. The amount of my order doubled in a blink of an eye. Miracle of miracles, the customer is delighted. And I have about guaranteed I will win the next order as they are convinced I am on their side and a problem solver.
Positive thinking nay sayers
I’ve seen several posts on other blogs lately about the secret. Several are pretty critical. “Just thinking that something will happen won’t make it” is their general complaint.
Both sides are right, but oh so wrong
In a way they are right. Many people will miss the point of The Secret. You can’t just wish it to happen and not do any work. You have to be willing to step up and seize the opportunities you are presented. Likewise, you don’t need to have every step planned, you don’t need to force things. Knowing what you want is often a huge step. Picturing it firmly in your mind will tend to make it happen.
The other part of The Secret that causes issues is that it claims that everything comes to you through “vibrations” you broadcast to the infinite universe. This is way too “new age” for many people. I know it was always a barrier for me with listening to Napoleon Hill. Then it hit me…They are just talking about God. They are a bit new age, so they don’t use that term. Also, it can apply to whatever religion you practice, just replace “infinite universe” with Allah/God/Jesus/etc.
Is it positive thinking, having a vision, or God helping?
I think it is all of the above. Positive thinking has been proven time and time again to drive success. You can only see opportunity and solve problems with a positive attitude. Negative attitudes drive away successful people.
Having a vision is critical to achieving goals. It is the “why” that makes it easy to stick with it. It is the critical first step to goal setting. In fact, you can often achieve your goals with just this step.
As for God helping, every religion says to put yourself in God’s hands. Again, I view this from a Christian viewpoint, but feel free to swap the word “God” with the supreme being of your choice. Time and time again we are told to “ask (with belief that you will get it) and you will receive.”
