The Power of Positive Thinking: Think Big and Kick Ass

Our thoughts determine who we are as individuals. From the time that we get up in the morning until the time that our heads hit the pillow at night, our thoughts are guiding us and determining our track through life. As human beings, our successes and failures are largely determined by our ongoing thoughts, not only about ourselves, but about ourselves in relation to the rest of the world. It can be said that our self-concept and self-esteem is the result of our long-term thinking about ourselves. The old saying "you are what you think" is more realistic and prophetic than many people think.

I have always been in awe of people who are ultra-successful and exceedingly confident. What is it that these people possess that the ordinary person does not? Guys like Donald Trump and Warren Buffett and Ted Turner immediately come to mind whenever I think of a person who is astronomically wealthy and successful. These guys are at the top of their respective professions. They have fame, fortune, and in the case of Donald Trump, a beautiful young wife. They seem to be enjoying life like there is no tomorrow. Now, I realize that these men are anomalies; there are millions of very successful and very rich people who do not even approach the level of accomplishment of these men. But, there seems to be a common denominator that exists across the spectrum when analyzing ultra-successful people. And that common denominator seems to be an extraordinary amount of self-confidence and self-belief.

Successful people believe in themselves to a degree that the average person does not. Many people, myself included, seem to be shackled and constrained by their narrow-minded and self-deprecating view of themselves. We believe that we are not smart enough, that we are not strong enough, or that we are not good looking enough to be successful. Many of us have been "trained" to think this way as a result of poor parenting, a negative environment, or from a combination of outside influences and factors. But no matter what the cause, a lack of self-belief and a habitual pattern of negative self-thought is detrimental to success and happiness in life. A person without a healthy self-concept and a solid foundation of self-esteem is like a car without gasoline; it's basically a useless shell. The potential for movement and accomplishment is there, but the drive or the "fuel" is absent.

What really got me thinking about the inherent qualities of a super-successful person and what they possess that the average person does not is a book that I read recently by none other than Donald Trump! His book, entitled Think Big and Kick Ass, is really nothing more than an in-your-face, high octane motivational tool. The book shouts at you from the pages to believe in yourself and think big; it's almost as if Donald Trump's hand reaches out from within the book's pages and grabs you by the throat to get your attention. The book is a great read! And it really set into motion my thinking and realization about the extreme importance and necessity of positive thinking and having a "yes I can" attitude. It seems overly-simplistic and basic to say "just believe in yourself", but it's the absolute truth! All a person has to do in order to set the wheels of success into motion is to do exactly that: Believe! Believe! Get out of your own way and give yourself permission to succeed and achieve. The simple step of giving yourself permission to strive to be as successful as you want to be is a huge step, and it's a step that seems to be lacking in many people.

But the ultra-successful seem to have that quality in abundance. They allow themselves to be successful; they focus on positive thoughts and strive to keep a positive mind-set. If they fall or fail, they regroup, learn from the mistake, and try again! As Donald Trump says in his book, "It doesn't cost anything to think big"! And it's true. If you have the option of thinking about something small and insignificant or something large and grandiose, why not choose the latter? The bigger a person thinks, the greater their motivation and desire. And the more motivated and desirous a person is, the more effective he/she will be. And, more than likely, more successful.