The Spirit of Success

Within each of us lies a power so great that many of us cannot comprehend the potential it holds to change our lives forever. We doubt, we worry, we cry, we fear and yet while all of these emotions are completely normal and part of what makes us human, too often we surrender to them for prolonged periods, never realizing that we had the ability to change our reality the entire time.

Over the course of my life, I can remember spending days, and sometimes even weeks in despair. These were during times when I didn’t think my career, or my relationships, or my life in general would ever reach the level of success I longed for. There were also times that I didn’t believe I was taken seriously and felt as though I was being ignored. In many ways, I did not believe in myself.

So, how do we move from a defeatist mindset into a mindset that will enable us to achieve the level of success we desire or the lifestyle we truly want? How can we prevent our subconscious mind from convincing us to stay small when we aren’t even aware that it’s whispering words of defeat into our ears? We read positive material, we pray, we meditate, we sing and we keep going and yet many of us seem to remain where we are, in that element of fear, frustration and discord. What is the real secret? What is the way out of struggle? We read, we spend, we work, and we wait. Then we hear the stories of how others changed their mindsets and bam - new life! What gives? What am I doing wrong?

It is at this juncture that over 90% of the population quits. It takes a lot of strength, courage and energy to keep moving forward when it appears that there is no help on the way. It takes a lot of strength, courage and energy to keep moving forward when all of your efforts seem to fall flat. It takes a lot of strength, courage and energy to keep moving forward when it appears to be a never ending struggle.

You must believe in yourself and keep going even when it seems to be a waste of time; even when all of your efforts seem to be failing; even when you don’t feel like you have the strength to take one… more… step. Take it anyway. But when you take it, don’t take it with a “me” attitude. Take your next step with an attitude of contribution. What you contribute to the world will return to you. It may not return to you in the manner in which it was given, but an equal value will be returned to you.

If you adopt the spirit of giving and contribution rather than thinking only of personal gain, you will then be successful, for this is the secret; this is the spirit of success. It is at this point that so many find themselves facing defeat or struggle for long periods of time. There must be a mindset change from personal gain and competition to that of creating and contributing. It’s a difficult concept to grasp for many, but adding value to yourself in order to bless others will eventually bring to you what you desire. Become proficient in every area of your life and give with an open heart. Go the extra mile. Create methods, products or services that will enhance the lives of others. If you do these things, you will find success - guaranteed. Actually, success will find you.

Success is what you think it is, not what others tell you it is - remember that. To another, it may be a big house and a six figure income, but to you it may be great health and strong personal relationships. It really doesn’t matter how you define your own success, the key to getting there remains the same. The "key" word is give. Give value and don’t give up.