The Road to Success

Originally published on https://gauravtiwari.org on 2008/05/17 at 1:10 pm. Now deleted.

The road to success is not a miraculous one. Success does not just happen.

Most people, who have not yet unlocked the key to being successful, look at those who have, and wonder where their “luck” comes from.

What these people do not realize is that success has nothing to do with luck. It has everything to do with the way you think, and the way those thoughts manifest.

You’re probably shaking your head, skeptical, disbelieving, and thinking that I must be crazy to even suggest that focusing your mind on the idea of being successful is all that’s required to unlock the power of success.

And it’s not just ordinary people who use this principle. Celebrity life coach Anthony Robbins had this to say: “All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs.” That’s a successful man, who not only lives by this principle; he’s made a career out of teaching it to millions of other people.

Success against all odds

Consider this: I am sure, at some stage during your adult life, you have met someone who has had a limited education, or comes from a disadvantaged background or both, and yet, they have managed to become successful in whatever field they are in.

On the other hand, how about the kid from the wrong side of the tracks, who despite all the odds, achieves astounding success in school or sports, and goes on to win a full scholarship to an Ivy League college? Why does that kid succeed? Positive thinking and determination.

We’ve all heard those stories, but for some reason, we fail to take the message to heart: success, in any area of your life, is less about what you have, what you’ve done, or who you know. It’s all about the unfaltering belief that you can overcome any obstacle, that anything is possible, and most importantly, that you deserve to succeed and be happy.

Why optimists are powerful people

Maybe you’ve met someone who is the eternal optimist. Some would say that is naivety, but, have you ever noticed that optimistic people tend to be happy people?

And people are attracted to happy people. They like to be around them, they find them inspirational, and success, in any arena, whether it is family life, work, business or academia, is all about building relationships.

How do you apply the success principle in your life?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you can succeed by thinking positive thoughts alone. You will need to get out there and do some work too, if only to meet new people, access new opportunities, and take on new challenges. What I am saying is that if your mindset is right, from before you even get started, you will be more likely to receive positive feedback in whatever you choose to do, and better equipped to handle the occasional rejection, and move on to the next big thing!

By believing in yourself, and visualizing your goals, you’re definitely going to be more likely to wake up every morning, ready to take that next step on your road to fulfillment. And by taking just one step everyday, one day, you’re going to wake up, and the journey is over. You’ve arrived. As Dennis Waitley once said: “A winner knows that success is going to happen today … or if not today, tomorrow … or the day after that … or the day after that … “, so why not start the process today?

But how do you start applying this in your life, and reaping the benefits today? When you first start to apply this principle, you will have to make a conscious choice to think positive thoughts, no matter how the odds are stacked against you. You have to wake up in the morning, decide to be happy and positive, and allow nothing to get you down.

After a while though, as this concept begins to work for you, and you start achieving the success you deserve, it will become natural for you to assume the best, and the more you do, the more you will receive the best.

How your life will change?

Once you realize just how powerful your own mind is in attracting the people, things and situations you want in your life, you will begin to see that nothing is impossible.

Maybe you’ve always wanted a new career, but you were too scared to leave your comfort zone, and see if it’s for you. Well, once you’ve begun to apply positive thinking to everything you do, you’ll realize that you’ll never know unless you try, and you might just go out there and get exactly the job you’ve always dreamed of.

Maybe you feel that your family life is not what you would like it to be. Once you start believing that you deserve happiness in all spheres, and that it’s what you think, and how you act on those thoughts that determine your success and happiness, you might just find that your home life improves dramatically. “Remember, happiness doesn’t depend on who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.” Dale Carnegie said that, and I think he might just have been right.

If, like many, you are experiencing financial difficulties related to the global economic downturn, you might just start to think of ways to remedy the situation. Imagine if you could spend all that time you are spending worrying constructively, earning extra money? It is possible, and you can do it. You just have to believe you can.

Just about any aspect of your life can be improved by just training your mind to always find that silver lining.

‘No’ is the worst thing you’ll ever hear

Hopefully by now you have realized that your mind is your single greatest tool in your quest for a successful life. Maybe you’ll start applying the principle. Taking chances. Acting on long held dreams and ideas. Good for you. You are on the road, and reaching your hopes and dreams is one step closer.

One last thought, which should help you on your way, and that is that no matter what question you ask, and no matter who you ask it of, no is the very worst answer you’ll ever hear.

That’s not so bad is it? One little no won’t stop you from reaching your goals now will it? And if you ask another ten or another hundred people the same question, eventually, you’ll get a yes.

Thomas Edison, one of the most successful inventors of all time knew this, and he had this to say on the topic: “I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.” Imagine he’d given up when he failed the first time? Or the second? We’d all be sitting in the dark!

So just keep pushing forward. Yes, it is just around the corner.