"If you think you can or you think you can't - you're right!" Henry Ford
Principle 5 in The Success Principles by Jack Canfield and Janet Switzer is "believe in yourself". In that chapter Canfield refers to the negative power of the phrase "I can't"
Remember the story of the little engine that could? The little engine had to get a huge load up a huge hill. It seemed impossible but he kept trying and as he tried he said, "I think I can. I think I can?", until finally he made it.
I often feel like that little engine with one unfortunate difference. I hear another voice trying to cancel out my "I think I can" refrain. It is the insidious little voice of the conductor whispering, "No you can't. No you can't". And her voice sounds an awful lot like mine.
When I decided to quit the rat race and make my living without a job, I expected opposition. I expected negative voice to be coming from my family and my well meaning friends. But they all surprised me with their encouragement and support. I think that part of the reason is because many people secretly share my dream of making a living without a job. If I succeed then maybe someday they will too. They also love me and believe in me.
No that voice that says, "You can't make it," comes from inside me. I have to work every day to drown out that whisper. I have to keep my goals front and center and tell myself over and over that "I can!"
I carry a stack of 3" X 5" cards in my purse with my goals written on them stated as if they had already occurred. An example would be: "I am so excited that my book, Stress and the Single Mom has become an instant best seller and that Jay Leno has invited me to be his guest on the Tonight Show. (Feb 19, 2006). I say these affirmations each morning and each night. And whenever I find myself having to wait in line, I whip out my little cards and go over them again.
I know I will make my dreams come true. I am already living them out in so many ways but still I must work being positive every day. It is not as if I can conquer one success principle and then move on to the next. It is an on-going daily commitment. And it is worth the effort.
Every day my "I can" voice gets clearer and louder. And every day, that negative little whispering voice is gets fainter and weaker.
I don't know if I will ever totally silence that insidious conductor but he has definitely been demoted. I am the conductor now.
** Attn Ezine editors / Site owners ** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.
(c) Jeanne Russell - All Rights reserved
-- Jeanne Russell is a mother writer and entrepreneur, She is founder of http://www.jeannerussell.com ( a website devoted to self-improvement and success) and also http://www.jeannerussell.com
eco-friendly cleaning service Bannockburn ..If you'd like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a... Read More
Our expectations get us into a lot of trouble and... Read More
In Part Three, I promised we would get into the... Read More
Here are the 3 elements of the "Purpose" leg in... Read More
Few books have impacted my perspective on human psychologically and... Read More
In Latin the word means 'to dare'.This word is so... Read More
I call the following seven belief lies of success, taking... Read More
A farmer in Pennsylvania decided to sell his farm, but... Read More
If you discovered your speaking career depended on how organized... Read More
Oprah and Harpo Productions, consistently reap awe-inspiring progress and record-breaking... Read More
(Excepted from the book The Five Major Pieces to the... Read More
We live in the information age, dominated by the development... Read More
We all want success in life. We want success in... Read More
One of the common elements you see in almost all... Read More
Believe it or not, there is a special 3-step formula... Read More
Ever have those days where no matter what you try... Read More
The recent mission of the space shuttle Discovery is NASA's... Read More
"Fear Factor" is one of my favorite TV shows. It... Read More
Do you know that there is a formula for attaining... Read More
FOCUSAs you're building your business, you can choose to win... Read More
Being busy has become a way of life for many... Read More
In the first part of this article you learned some... Read More
Fear.Everything in this world has its opposite.Good has bad.Optimism has... Read More
A good laugh can help in a difficult or tough... Read More
To make change effective, you have to BE what you... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..A Lifelong Learning Plan is a conscious, continuous engagement in... Read More
Dare to Dream~It is said that every person has at... Read More
If you'd like to fulfill your long-held dreams, try a... Read More
There are certain laws that when obeyed will bring great... Read More
"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the... Read More
I could labor the idea but then that would only... Read More
Your ability to deal constructively and effectively with mistakes and... Read More
Most of us fear change, because - as we've all... Read More
Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone recently opened an academy... Read More
Your mind is the only tool that can create success... Read More
People have a tremendous capacity for outstanding achievement. There are... Read More
You have a choice today?You can remain in the same... Read More
Too often we wait for the 'right time' or 'the... Read More
Delegate your life If you're having problems finding the time... Read More
"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in... Read More
Abundance is intangible, spiritual and attracts energy. To attract this... Read More
To achieve success it can be important to keep going... Read More
Let's say you're moving forward in your efforts to achieve... Read More
Why is it that most people still equate being successful... Read More
Have you ever made plans in your career but never... Read More
Smile brings beauty to your face, charm to your personality... Read More
Once you've made it...throw a Success Shindig! Of course you... Read More
The fastest way to succeeding in anything, be it online... Read More
Revolution:a sudden, radical, or complete change a fundamental change in... Read More
Successful people set ambitious goals. But the high standards and... Read More
Success |