Harness the Power of Thoughts and Persistence...#48
thoughts & persistence to everyday situations.
Do you ever feel trapped by negative thoughts? Like that voice in your head is telling you "You're not good enough" or "Just give up already." So, is something wrong with you? No. Childhood experiences, societal norms, and beliefs influence this inner voice. It is time to fight back and take control of your mindset.
Picture this: It is the morning before you have to give an important presentation at work. When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Are you feeling confident, thinking "I am prepared and have great things to share"? Or are you already feeling dread, thinking about all the things that could go wrong - messing up your words or bombing in front of everyone?
The thoughts we choose are incredibly powerful. As Napoleon Hill said,
"Thoughts are powerful things, when mixed with clear purpose, persistence, and a burning desire to make them real..."
I remember being terrified before one big presentation early in my career. In the days leading up to it, I let doubt fill my mind. "What if I stumble over words?" "What if they think I'm not good enough?" Those toxic thoughts took over until I was a nervous wreck backstage, envisioning people's unimpressed faces as I fumbled my way through it.
Can you guess how that presentation went? Not well at all. I could barely string sentences together, I was sweating bullets - all because I had let those insecure thoughts become real.
But then there was another time when I was interviewing for a job I really wanted. This time, I chose confident thoughts instead. "You have worked hard for this - you deserve it." "Your skills will shine." With an empowered mindset, I stayed calm and impressed them. I got that job.
The thoughts you think determine your reality. But just thinking positively isn't enough on its own. You have to blend those positive thoughts with relentless persistence and an intense desire to actually achieve your goals.
Can you vividly picture yourself writing that book, starting that business, or transforming your health and fitness? Don't just fantasize - take one tiny action towards it today. And no matter what obstacles come up, refuse to stop. Keep taking action every day, pushing through. Keep replacing those negative thoughts with reminders of why you started. Read, my post on how you can influence your Perspective, Systems & Action.
My Substack journey was filled with setbacks - false starts, and crushing self-doubt. But every time I thought of quitting, I chose to keep going instead. I stubbornly persisted, putting energy towards making the goal. Through sheer force of will and refusing to stop believing, those persistent thoughts and actions are starting to pay off.
So what big goals and dreams are trapped inside you, held back by limiting thoughts and lack of persistent effort? Whatever they are, you have the power to make them real. Any time those disempowering voices start up, instantly replace them with thoughts fueled by your intense desire to achieve greatness according to YOU. Follow those thoughts with daily determined action, using every bit of grit and resilience needed.
Be kind to yourself too. There will be setbacks. Celebrate small wins, and honor the courage it takes to keep going.
You were born to create, achieve, and live a life of passion and purpose. Don't let fears, doubts, or excuses smother the big, audacious dreams inside you. Think, boldly, persist relentlessly, and prepare to be amazed by what you are capable of.
leonardo.ai
Some people are waiting for a grand and magical revelation, but there won't be any.
We think things, we start doing them, we keep doing them, we become better at doing them, they become easier, we start and continue enjoying them, then at some point we may be compensated (monetarily or otherwise) for doing them.
It's simple, but it's hard. We must know what to begin, and this is the outcome of our thoughts. We must also know what to continue, and this is a function of our level of persistence.
Doubts will always be there, but I've come to see that they reduce as be generate evidence that we can actually do things. We just have to think and believe we can, then let momentum, experience, and the the power of "I can do things" do the rest.
Thanks for this Tinashe, as always.
Language is powerful, and judgments are heavy. Being aware of our inner dialogue is critical because, like you beautifully illustrated, it shapes our behavior and influences the outcome. Thanks for sharing!