If you think you are a loser, you train or work like a loser i.e. sloppily and half-heartedly. If you think you are a winner you train like one i.e. with maximum focus, great expectations, excitement and consistent effort. This article takes a look at why people think like winners or losers and what they can do about it.
Steve Siebold describes in his recent book -"177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class" - how he wanted to be a tennis champion. He had all the talent and the desire necessary but at times he lacked the belief that he was a potential champion. He writes:
"When I believed I was a champion, I trained like a champion. When I believed I was washed up, I trained like a loser."
When he was only ten years old, he defeated nearly everyone he played and, as a result, was thinking like a champion. He expected to win and so he trained and worked hard as winners should.
As he grew older his rankings started to drop and he no longer expected to win and so he started training like a loser instead of a winner.
He still had the desire to be a champion but so do lots of people. He believes that what made the difference was his belief in himself or his lack of it.
He lost some of his belief in himself through associating too much with what he calls the 'middle class' instead of the 'world class'. The middle class are too easily satisfied with mediocre results. The world class are only content when they become champions in whatever they are doing whether it be playing tennis or making money.
When I went to school at the age of 11, I worked hard and did all the work set with full attention and the desire to do well. I did so well that the principal of the school suggested I move up a whole year.
This was a mistake. I now came under the influence of class mates who did not like the fact that I had jumped a year. Some of them called me a swat and a bighead. Maybe they were right but I don't think so. Working hard was frowned on by this bunch.
They changed my thinking about myself so much that instead of thinking of myself as a champion student, I saw myself as some kind of a freak for working so hard. My effort dropped along with my self-image. Never underestimate the influence of those around you. I was lucky in the end to pass my exams and get to university.
It has taken me many years to regain belief in myself. I was helped by the great American positive thinkers like Norman Vincent Peale, Frank Bettger and William James.
One English writer who has also helped greatly in this is the multimillionaire Stuart Goldsmith. His book 'The Midas Method' explains how most of us are brainwashed at an early age into thinking there is an invisible ceiling to our progress which we will never break through.
Once we realize that this ceiling is only a figment of the imagination of ourselves and our so-called 'friends', we will be able to break through our limitations and achieve world class results which will astonish us.
We need to re-examine our beliefs about ourselves and to realize that many of them originated in the beliefs of people who thought that great results were only for the few and that our dreams were just 'pie in the sky'.
Instead of listening to the middle class or the poverty class (those who are not even aware of the possibility that they could be champions), let's start listening to the world class. Let's replace negative beliefs about ourselves with empowering ones and then start working hard to achieve our dreams.
We don't need a degree in psychology to do all this. A little bit of commonsense and observation can show us the way. It also helps to read the books of people like Steve Siebold and Stuart Goldsmith and - if I dare say it without being called a bighead - myself!
You may or may not have access to world class neighbours or friends but you do have easy access to world class writers and thinkers through the media of books, audios and video tapes. The internet has, of course, widened that access exponentially.
It is high time you and I joined the world class and made the most of the championship potential which is there in all of us.
About the author
John Watson is an award winning teacher and fifth degree black belt martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams and several other books on success and motivation.
They can be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a weekly motivational message and several other motivational books.
The title of the first book is "36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, Pictures And Quotes...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles"
The book can be found at this URL: http://www.motivationtoday.com
The book uses acronyms, stories, pictures and quotations to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.
Ezine editors / Site owners
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site but please include the resource box above.
You want to change your self-care habits and you can't... Read More
Good morning I love you.This is a basic exercise, which... Read More
"If I have the belief that I can do it,... Read More
This week I happened to catch a few minutes of... Read More
Everyone faces challenges during their life, from suffering the death... Read More
I'm lucky.When I was fifteen, I was the sole survivor... Read More
One of things that Charismatic people share is an unshakeable... Read More
In frustration it's easy to jump to false conclusions that... Read More
The only constant is change. If theres one thing we... Read More
You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More
You have probably noticed those people at work, school, and... Read More
In my work as a professional coach, I've had the... Read More
"In life, if you give yourself a concession, you'd take... Read More
My story explains the struggles I had as a 23-year-old... Read More
Life is an enigma...It starts without our knowledge, grows without... Read More
Have you ever felt the whole world was against you?... Read More
I AM SO GRATEFUL for meeting challenges head-on. We see... Read More
Resentment isn't a spectacular emotion, but it is long-lasting and... Read More
Our lives are busy. We rush here only to remember... Read More
Discover how easy it is to improve your relationships. The... Read More
The universe is vast, it's dimensions inconceivable, it's potentialities unimaginable,... Read More
Year after year I find more and more individuals saying... Read More
WhenWhen we have feelings for someone or something, we have... Read More
Look for the positives!Seek them out - those little scary... Read More
Smart folk have always realised how vital it is to... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..When you're feeling "low," or out of the flow, it's... Read More
Have you ever dreaded an upcoming presentation, meeting or function... Read More
Yuk!One thing, I really have a problem with is criticism.... Read More
Positive self-esteem is very important if not crucial to our... Read More
James Allen, who wrote the masterpiece, As a Man Thinketh,... Read More
"It really works!" "Well, I'll be?!"BJ like so many others... Read More
Words, Ignorance, and Casper The Friendly Ghost!Do your best to... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
Looking around at our circumstances we may see only mountains... Read More
Turn negative thoughts into positive ones.Negative thoughts can be very... Read More
This is a technique that sounds a bit silly when... Read More
Often when radical change occurs in our lives we feel... Read More
At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and... Read More
When you feel lost and confused, it is easy to... Read More
The milkman knocks at the door of the old lady's... Read More
Our attitude makes seems to control just about everything about... Read More
Not Amen, just so we're clear on that.AND.The little connector... Read More
Did you know that our thoughts may be influencing our... Read More
As if choreographed and rehearsed the night before, one lays... Read More
Imagine what your life would be like if you could... Read More
There is a growing volume of research that shows' staying... Read More
I started life writing in the fifth grade. My mother... Read More
"The other night I ate at a real family restaurant.... Read More
Have you ever been caught up in a thought that... Read More
Most of us carry on a running internal dialogue at... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |