Mindpower

In Napoleon Hill’s book, Think and Grow Rich, introduced the world to a secret.  The movie "The Secret" refers back to this very same secret. Napoleon Hill carefully analyzed more than 500 of the world’s "exceedly wealthy" people over a long period of years.

The master key to this secret is that "thoughts are things" - they are powerful when mixed with definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a BURNING DESIRE for their translation into riches or other material objects.

One of the topics I discuss in my master mind and coaching groups is the understanding of how thoughts become things. Science has discovered that thoughts are energy that can be measured in a frequency. Thought frequencies, or thought energy attracts to it resonant energy and brings like minded people and things into our lives by attraction. The energy of the world that is around us adapts itself to the nature of our thoughts and influences us or takes on our influence to convert our thoughts into what we’ve been thinking about.

Thoughts - energy - this power does not discriminate between destructive thoughts and constructive thoughts - it is as effective on both - bringing about whatever it is we focus our thoughts on.  Our dominate thoughts create the life we live.  We actually become mental magnets drawing into our lives the "worst case scenarios" that we plan and re-plan; or the grand celebrations that we fantasize and dream about.

"Any idea that is held in the mind that is either feared or revered will, begin at once to clothe itself in the most convenient and appropriate physical forms available." Andrew Canargie

The Gratitude Prayer

I just received a copy of this in my email this week from the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

THE GRATITUDE PRAYER
by Napoleon Hill

I give thanks daily, not for mere riches, but for wisdom with which to recognize, embrace, and properly use the great abundance of riches I now have at my command. I have no enemies because I injure no man for any cause, but I try to benefit all with whom I come in contact by teaching them the way to enduring riches. I have more material wealth than I need because I am free from greed and covet only the material things I can use while I live.

Napoleon Hill’s Gratitude Prayer is a testimonial to his strong belief in Applied Faith. He reassures students of his philosophy that if you repeat this prayer daily in alignment with your definite major purpose, marvelous things will begin to occur in your life. Why is this so? Let’s see if we can begin to analyze the reasons this gratitude prayer can work so miraculously in our everyday lives.

First, this prayer is a prayer of thankfulness, not of petition. When praying this prayer, the individual is not requesting anything, but more importantly honoring and giving thanks for that which has already been received. This works to focus the person on the abundance that already exists and also to express to Infinite Intelligence thoughts of gratefulness for having been given so much so freely. When we look to the good in our lives, it is difficult to focus on the bad. In being grateful, you cannot also simultaneously bemoan a lack. Gratitude shines the spotlight on the good, while diminishing the bad. The age-old adage, “You get what you focus on,” seems to be applicable here.

Second, this prayer emphasizes the importance of going the extra mile by stating a desire to share the way to enduring riches with all whom the person comes into contact. This sharing is freely done, because the person doing the praying knows that the Universe strongly supports the Law of Compensation. “What goes around comes around” is often an expression used to indicate that what you put out you, in turn, receive.  Putting out good thoughts via prayers of gratitude causes good thoughts to return to you in kind.

Third, by focusing on goodness the person creates a positive environment for the mind. Good outcomes are preceded by positive thoughts. Since thoughts are things, thinking good thoughts helps to create a positive cycle of thoughts and outcomes. Think good things and experience good outcomes. Remember, you reap what you sow.

Fourth, by acknowledging that everything that is needed is already possessed, the person again is casting bread upon the waters knowing that it will be multiplied when returned. Nothing diminishes a person like worry. By refusing to worry, a person is able to control the mental state he decides to be in. When you control your state of mind, you can control your future. All this is accomplished by knowing that you already possess the “whatever” it is that you need. There is no lack. All good things come to those who expect them!

Fifth, repeating this prayer daily with enthusiasm allows the message to enter into your subconscious mind. The subconscious mind knows no right from wrong, but it does understand an emotionalized command when it is given one. Through repetition, the prayer conditions the mind for focusing on positive outcomes.

Sixth, Infinite Intelligence is grateful when a “Thank You” is expressed. For example, when someone thanks you for a favor or for some assistance, this considerate act naturally makes you want to do even more for that person. The “Thank You” sets up a positive regard for that person and causes the listener to want to continue to give. It works the same way with Infinite Intelligence.

Seventh, being thankful is courteous and contagious. Instead of complaining, find something to be thankful about and notice the difference in your outlook. Roses bloom where weeds once grew.

Eight, as you condition your mind to being thankful, it will attract more goodness to you. Like attracts like. Ever notice a new car on the road, and then buy one? Immediately, you begin to see this car everywhere. That’s how focus works. You find what you look for. Look for and acknowledge the good.

Ninth, as you take the best you can leave the rest. Focusing on the good reinforces the good. The bad departs due to lack of attention. You decide what you want to have in your life.

Tenth, you should do good because doing good is the right thing to do. In giving thanks, we accentuate the positive, that is, we do good. Good promotes good and begins a cycle of a self-fulfilling prophesy. Do good. It IS the right thing to do. Let your little light shine and soon it will eliminate the darkness.

Here are the basic steps to abundance through Dr. Hill’s Gratitude Prayer:
1. Read the prayer daily.
2. Relate the prayer to your daily existence.
3. Assimilate the message into your own life. That is, incorporate the positive outlook into your own frame of mind.
4. Apply the technique of looking for many things to be grateful for in your daily life. A beautiful sunrise, a colorful autumn leaf, the cool crisp morning air, an exquisite rose, a helping hand, a sincere friend in time of need, an unexpected bonus at work, a devoted pet, and a favorite song are all reasons to be grateful.
5. Repeat the process daily beginning with step number one.
6. Notice the difference in your life. Make sure that you write down the highlights in your journal so that you can document the change!

Blessings in abundance

Napoleon Hill on Decision

Accurate analysis of over 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure, disclosed the fact that lack of decision was near the head of the list of the 30 major causes of failure. This is no mere statement of a theory - it is a fact.

Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy which practically every man must conquer.

You will have an opportunity to test your capacity to reach quick and definite decisions when you finish reading this lesson, and are ready to begin putting into action the principles which it describes.

Analysis of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes well beyond the million dollar mark, disclosed the fact that every one of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly, and of changing these decisions slowly, if, and when they were changed. People who fail to accumulate money, without exception, have the habit of reaching decisions, if at all, very slowly, and of changing these decisions quickly and often.

The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs, are, generally, easily influenced by the "opinions" of others. They permit the newspapers and the "gossiping" neighbors to do their "thinking" for them. "Opinions" are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them. If you are influenced by "opinions" when you reach decisions, you will not succeed in any undertaking, much less in that of transmuting your own desire into money.

If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you will have no desire of your own.

Napoleon Hill
Think and Grow Rich!: The Original Version, Restored and Revised