“Eight Words that can Transform Your Life”

“You are not what you think you are; but what you think, you are.” – Norman Vincent Peale.

I just finished reading The Dale Carnegie’s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living and was deeply moved to share about a core concept that I always try to ponder and act upon  – “Our thoughts make us what we are.  Our  mental attitude is the X factor that determines our fate.”

The aforementioned idea is basically not a surprise. In fact, much has already been written and said about the significance of what we think and how it can positively or negatively alter our lives. Simply put, if we think we will succeed, we will eventually win in life. If we think we will fail, then we will be ultimately doomed.

Dale Carnegie quoted the great philosopher, Marcus Aurelius – (there are) eight words that can determine your destiny:

“Our life is what our thoughts make it.”

I remember the day when I dragged myself to work and whined until I wallowed in self-pity and sheer disappointment. I thought about all the bad things that I could possibly think about. You know what happened during the entire day? You guessed it right. I was so engrossed with bad vibes that I was unreasonably irritated about everything in anything! I had a miserable day. Even worse than how I imagined it to be.

I also remembered the day when I did the exact opposite.

I woke up with great energy! I felt the zeal completely overpowering my senses, as if I was the most enthusiastic accountant alive! I thought about the best things that I could possibly think about. I said a prayer. I counted my blessings. It was a beautiful feeling. Now you start guessing what happened during my day…

…you guessed it right! Again! It was definitely one of the most meaningful days of my life.

Dale Carnegie wrapped up his piece about how we can dramatically transform our lives through a change in our thoughts by sharing a daily program of cheerful and constructive thinking. The program is entitled “Just for Today” by Sibyl F. Patridge.

JUST FOR TODAY

1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.
2. Just for today I will try to adjust myself to what is, and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business, and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.
3. Just for today I will take care of my body. I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.
4. Just for today I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.
5. Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways; I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don’t want to do as William James suggests, just for exercise.
6. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.
7. Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.
8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests, hurry and indecision.
9. Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself and relax. In this half hour sometimes I will think of God, so as to get a little more perspective into my life.
10. Just for today I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love, and to believe that those I love, love me.

—Written by Sybil F. Partridge and printed in How To Stop Worrying, And Start Living by Dale Carnegie, 1951

I know how difficult it is to constantly think about the good things specially when we are bombarded with a lot of challenges, difficulties. More often than not, life smacks us right in the face and make us feel inadequate, incapable of fighting and living the life we deserve. But whenever we encounter this predicament, let’s just strive to give our problems a good fight and think of them as opportunities for us to better our lives.