YOU CAN WORK YOUR OWN MIRACLES

Big thanks to my mentor Dale Brown for forwarding me the following from Napoleon Hill titled "You Can Work Your Own Miracles."

1. Every adversity, every unpleasant circumstance, every failure, and every physical pain carries with it the seed of an equivalent benefit.

2. Refuse to accept as inevitable any circumstance one does not desire.

3. Your mental attitude determines whether you find peace of mind or go through life in a state of frustration and misery.

4. The mind is the one and only means by which an individual may plan his own life and live it as he chooses.

A positive mental attitude is the fixed purpose to make every experience, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, yield some form of benefit which will help us to balance our lives with all the things which lead to peace of mind.

It is the habit of searching for “the seed of an equivalent benefit” which comes with every failure, defeat, or adversity we experience, and causing that seed to germinate into something beneficial.

The majority of people go all the way through life with their mental attitudes dominated by fears and anxieties and worries over circumstances which somehow have a way of making their appearance sooner or later.

A positive mental attitude is the habit of acting with definiteness of purpose, with full belief in both the soundness of that purpose and one’s ability to achieve it.

All habits, good or bad, voluntary or involuntary, are established by one’s mental attitude.

5. Mental attitude is everything, because it influences every experience with which we meet, and it is under our complete control at all times.

What a profound thought it is to recognize that the one thing which can give us success or bring us failure, bless us with peace of mind, or curse us with misery all the days of our lives, is simply the privilege of taking possession of our own minds and guiding them to whatever ends we choose, through our mental attitude.

6. Every circumstance known to man, every mistake and every failure and every heartache, may become highly beneficial when one relates himself to them in a spirit of harmony and understanding

of their nature and purpose.

7. By the simple process of changing his mental attitude, man can draw himself any pattern of life and living he chooses and make that pattern a reality.

8. The seven basic fears we must overcome are:

a. The Fear of POVERTY

b. The Fear of CRITICISM

c. The Fear of ILL HEALTH and PHYSICAL PAIN

d. The Fear of the LOSS of LOVE

e. The Fear of the LOSS of LIBERTY

f. The Fear of OLD AGE

g. The Fear of OUR DEATH or DEATH of a LOVED ONE

9. Suffering, through physical or mental pain, disappointments, frustrations, and sorrows, is the means by which one may become great or go down in permanent failure. The determining factor as to which of these two circumstances one embraces depends entirely upon one’s mental attitude toward them.

10. Struggle keeps man from going to sleep with self-satisfaction or laziness, and forces him onward and upward in the fulfillment of his mission in life, and he thereby makes his individual contribution to whatever may be the Universal Purpose of mankind on earth.

Strength, both physical and spiritual, is the product of struggle!

Meet struggle and master it, says nature, and you shall have strength and wisdom sufficient for all your needs.

11. When a majority of the people of any nation give up their inherited prerogative right to make their own way through struggle, history shows clearly that the entire nation is in a tailspin of decay that inevitably must end in extinction.

The individual who not only is willing to live on the public treasury, but demands that he be fed from it, is already dead.

Poverty is a disease which, once it is accepted, becomes a fixation which is hard to shake off.

It is no disgrace to be born in poverty but is most decidedly is a disgrace to accept this birthright as irrevocable.

Most of the truly great men and women throughout civilization have known poverty, but they experienced it, renounced it, mastered it and made themselves free.

Poverty can be a profound blessing. It can also be a lifelong curse. The determining factor as to which it shall be consists in one’s mental attitude toward it. If it is accepted as a challenge to greater effort, it is a blessing. If it is accepted as an unavoidable handicap, then it is an enduring curse.

12. The Twelve Great Riches of Life:

a. A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE. One’s mental attitude supplies the “pulling power” which attracts to him the material equivalent of all fears, desires, doubts and beliefs.

 b. SOUND PHYSICAL HEALTH. Maintenance of a Positive Mental Attitude is one of the greatest forms of prevention of ill health known to mankind.

 c. HARMONY IN HUMAN RELATIONS. Friction in human relations is often the result of confusion, frustration, fear, and doubt within the individual who, oftentimes, mirrors these negative states of mind in other people, thus making harmony impossible.

d. FREEDOM FROM FEAR. No man enslaved by fear is rich; nor is he free.

e. THE HOPE OF FUTURE ACHIEVEMENT. Hope sustains one in times of emergency when, without it, fear would take over. Hope is the basis of the most profound form of happiness which comes from the expectancy of success in some, as yet unattained, plan or purpose.

f. THE CAPACITY FOR FAITH. Faith is the spiritual quality which, when mixed with prayer, gives one direct and immediate connection with Infinite Intelligence.

g. WILLINGNESS TO SHARE ONE’S BLESSINGS. He who has not learned the blessed art of sharing his blessing with others has not found the true path to enduring happiness. Neglect or refusal to share one’s blessings is a sure way to cut the line of communication between a man and his soul.

 h. A LABOR OF LOVE. Engagement in a labor of love is the greatest of all cures for melancholy, frustration, and fear. And it is a builder of physical health without equal.

 i. AN OPEN MIND ON ALL SUBJECTS. Tolerance, which is among the higher attributes of culture, is expressed only by the person who holds an open mind on all subjects, toward all people, at all times.

 j. SELF-DISCIPLINE. Self-discipline is the only means by which one may take full and complete possession of his own mind and direct it to the attainment of whatsoever ends he may wish.

k. THE CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE. The person who is rich in the understanding of people recognizes that all people are fundamentally alike. Know yourself and you will be well on the road to understanding others.

l. ECONOMIC SECURITY. Economic security is not attained by the possession of money alone. It is attained by the service one renders, for useful service may be converted into all forms of human needs, with or without the use of money.

13. Failure is an accurate measuring device by which an individual may determine his weaknesses; and it provides therefore an opportunity for correcting them. In this sense failure always is a blessing.

Most so-called failures are only temporary defeats which can be converted into assets of a priceless nature if one takes a positive mental attitude toward them.

From birth until death, life poses a constant challenge to people to master failure without going down for the count, and rewards with bountiful opulence and great personal powers those who successfully meet the challenge.

In all human endeavors nature seems to favor the “fool” who did not know he could fail, but who went ahead and did the “impossible” before he discovered it couldn’t be done.

14. A man without the capacity for sorrow is the nearest thing to a Devil in the flesh.

The emotion of sorrow, like the emotion of love, refines the souls of those who experience it, and gives them courage and faith to meet the trials and tribulations of struggle in a world of confusion and chaos, provided always that sorrow is accepted as a benefit and not as a curse. Resentment of sorrow develops stomach ulcers, high blood pressure and general unfriendliness from other people.

Every sorrow brings with it the seed of an equivalent joy!

15. Man alone has been given the privilege of fixing his own earthly destiny, with the right to make it pleasant or unpleasant, successful or unsuccessful, happy or unhappy, rich or poor, and his achievements are always unpredictable because his potential power is limited.

Man has potential control over almost everything, but he rarely discovers the powers available to him or makes any attempt to use these powers for his own uplift, or to make this a better world.

Man’s major weakness consists not in riches he does not possess, but in the failure to make use of that which he has!

16. If negative thoughts stray into the minds of the truly great, these thoughts are immediately transmuted into positive thoughts and exercised by positive physical action appropriate to their nature.

17. Freedom of the American way of life is one of the Great Miracles of all times. Here in the United States of America the stage has been set and the way has been prepared, as nowhere else on this earth at any period of time, for man to take full and complete possession of his own mind and direct it to whatever ends he may desire.

Where else on earth, except in America, could a uneducated Italian immigrant such as A. B Giannina, start his career by pushing a banana cart and pyramid his efforts into the ownership of the world’s largest banking system—the Bank of America?

Where else but in America could a young, uneducated mechanic give birth to an industry like that of the automobile industry, and without capital to begin with, pyramid his humble beginning into a world-wide empire with a fabulous fortune, and provide employment for hundreds of thousands of people, as did Henry Ford?

Where else is every male child born as a potential holder of the highest office the people have to offer.

Where, except in the United States of America, can any individual of any race or creed walk with dignity upon the earth and say truly, “I am free?”

Let us be reminded that this heritage will remain ours only so long as we recognize it, use it properly and protect it. Like, all other blessings conferred upon man by Mother Nature, our rights to the privileges we enjoy in America will remain only as long as we earn the right to them. Nature looks with great disfavor on the idea of something for nothing.

18. All of man’s successes and all of his failures and frustrations are the direct result of the manner in which he uses his mind, or neglects to use it.

One of the greatest of the inconsistencies of mankind is the fact that the majority of people go through life with their minds devoted largely to thinking of all the things and circumstances they do not wish—poverty, failure, ill health, unhappiness, and physical pain—and they then wonder why they are cursed with all of these undesirable conditions.

The mind attracts to one the exact material equivalent of that which one thinks about most often. The Creator provided every normal person with complete, unchallengeable right and power to control and direct his mind power to whatever ends he may choose, and you will have no difficulty in recognizing that all undesirable circumstances one meets with are the results of neglect to take possession of the mind and to guide it to the ends one desires.

Hypochondria means imaginary physical ailment! It is a conservative statement to say that this ailment gives doctors and dentists more trouble than all the real ailments known to mankind.

19. The most profound truth known to man is the fact that man alone has been given the inexorable privilege of controlling and directing his own mind to whatsoever ends he may choose. We know also that the acceptance and use of this profound prerogative gives man the key to his own destiny.

The subconscious mind will not act upon any idea, plan, or purpose which is not clearly expressed to it.

NAPOLEON HILL'S KEYS TO SUCCESS (#4)

KEY #4: USE APPLIED FAITH

You should not simply have faith; you must use it.

Faith is a state of mind. For it to be useful to you in achieving lasting success, it must be an active not a passive, faith.

Whatever you mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

OVERCOMING FEAR

The First Fear: Poverty

This is the most destructive of the seven basic fears, and the hardest to master because it brings so much suffering and misery. It can lead to:

-Lack of ambition

-Failure to make your own decisions

-Making excuses for your failures

-A negative mental attitude

Developing definiteness of purpose is the first step toward replacing a negative mental attitude with a positive one.

The Second Fear: Criticism

Fear of criticism can affect you in ways both trivial and serious. It can prevent you from presenting and acting on ideas that are revolutionary, ideas that would give you independence. It can lead to:

-Keeping up with Joneses

-Bragging about you achievements

-Being easily embarrassed

The Third Fear: Ill Health

This fear is closely related to a later, the fear of death, but it is much more dependent on habits for hits growth. It, too, can prevent you from taking risks, and its simple presence can actually bring about the very situation you so fear. It can lead to:

-The drugstore habit

-The bait of self-pity

-The bait of substance abuse

Remember: Your own mental attitude toward your health is the most important factor in your good health. Overcoming your fear if ill health can bring you wonderfully concrete results in so many ways.

The Fourth Fear: Loss of Love

The fear of the loss of love is so intimate and so easily understood that it isn't necessary to elaborate on it's symptoms. Simply cultivate your relationships with a positive mental attitude, give them your all, and instead of being a source of fear to you, they will be a bastion of strength and courage.

The Fifth Fear: Old Age

The fear of old age causes you to slow down and develop a feeling of inferiority. The best way to confront this fear is to jump on it with both feet and laugh about it.

The Sixth Fear: Loss of Liberty

No matter where you live, in any country, the fear of the loss of freedom is present. The only way to fight this year is to take an active role in defending the institutions that preserve your liberty.

The Seventh Fear: Death

This fear is the grandfather of all others. It is very difficult to whip because it is so universal in our society, and because it is constantly reinforced on a daily basis.

The truth is, fear of death can stop you in your tracks much sooner than the actual event.

DEMONSTRATING THE POWER OF YOUR FAITH

Step One: Adopt a definite major purpose and begin to attain it. Know what you want and get busy creating it.

Step Two: Affirm the object of your desire through prayer, morning and night. Inspire you imagination to see yourself already in possession of it.

Step Three: Associate as many as possible of the ten basic human motives (self-preservation, love, fear, sex, desire for life after death, freedom for mind and body, anger, hate, desire for recognition, wealth) with your definite major purpose. Give yourself a compelling motive for doing what you want to do.

Step Four: Write out a list of all the advantages of your definite major purpose, and call them into your mind as often as you can.

Step Five: Associate with people who are in sympathy with you and your major purpose; get their encouragement.

Step Six: Don't let a day pass without making at least one definite move toward attaining your major purpose.

Step Seven: Chose a "pacesetter." Pick someone prosperous, self-reliant, and successful, and make up your mind not only to catch up with that person but to pass him or her by.

Step Eight: Surround yourself with books, pictures, mottoes and other suggestive devices.

As you build an atmosphere of support, keep a notebook handy to jot down things you hear and read that inspire you.

Step Nine: Never run away from disagreeable circumstances. Fight them, with all your resources, right where you stand and without a moment's notice.

Step Ten: Recognize that anything worth having has a definite price tag. Anything worth having is worth working for.

From Napoleon Hill's Keys To Success

NAPOLEON HILL'S KEYS TO SUCCESS #3

KEY #3: ASSEMBLE AN ATTRACTIVE PERSONALITY

Being able to adapt yourself quickly to changing circumstances and emergencies without panic or loss of temper is a significant skill as you struggle toward success.

The yes-man is a universal object of derision precisely because everyone recognizes his insincerity.

The cheapest and most profitable quality in the world is courtesy.

There is a right moment and a wrong moment for everything. Tact is the habit of doing and saying the right thing at the right moment.

Here is a list of the most common ways people show their lack of tact:

1. Carelessness in their tone of voice, often speaking in gruff, antagonistic tones.

2. Speaking out of turn when silence would be more appropriate.

3. Interrupting others who are speaking.

4. Overworking the personal pronoun so that every sentence features the word "I."

5. Asking impertinent questions, often to impress others with their own importance.

6. Injecting intimately personal subjects into the conversations when such subjects are embarrassing to others.

7. Going where they have not been invited.

8. Boastfulness.

9. Flouting social norms in matters of attire.

10. Making calls at inconvenient hours.

11. Holding people on the telephone with needless conversations.

12. Writing letter that are overly familiar to people they hardly know.

13. Volunteering unsolicited opinions on any subject under the sun, without regard to their knowledge.

14. Openly questioning the soundness of others' opinions.

15. Declining requests from others in an arrogant manner.

16. Speaking disparagingly of people in front of their friends.

17. Rebuking people who disagree with them.

18. commenting on people's disabilities.

19. Correcting subordinates and colleagues in the presence of others.

20. Complaining when requests for favors are refused.

21. Presuming upon friendship in asking for favors.

22. Using profane and offensive language.

23. Expressing dislikes at a drop of a hat.

24. Dwelling on ills or misfortunes.

25. Complaining about politics or religion.

26. Displaying general over familiarity

Controlling the tone of your voice so that it carries meaning beyond mere words in invaluable.

Don't underestimate the importance of a frequent and sincere smile in making your personality appealing to others -- or its effect on yourself.

You can tell a great deal about what is going on in people's minds by the expressions on their faces.

Tolerance is the disposition to be patient and fair toward those whose opinions, practices, and beliefs differ from yours.

A well-developed sense of humor aids you in becoming flexible and adaptable to the varying circumstances of life.

Faith is woven into every principle of the philosophy of achievement; faith is the essence of every great achievement, no matter what its nature or purpose.

There is more to effective speech than the vital aspect of appropriate word choice. Combining frankness, word choice and other aspects of a pleasing personality will make you a powerful communicator able to speak with conviction and persuasion, whether you are addressing a convention, a roundtable, or one person.

There's an adage: "Know what you wish to say, say it with all the feeling you command, and then sit down!"

No matter how much you know about the field of your endeavor, unless you can display a general interest in the world at large, no one is going to find you attractive.

Impatience with others is a visible expression of selfishness and lack of self-discipline.

Arrogance, vanity, and egotism are never found in someone with an attractive personality. Don't mistake humility for timidity; true humility is a recognition that even the great folk are, in the scheme of human existence, only fragments of the hole. Recognize that the blessing you have a re a gift to be used for the common good, not topics for every conversation.

From Napoleon Hill's Keys To Success

NAPOLEON HILL'S KEYS TO SUCCESS #2

KEY #2: ESTABLISH A MASTERMIND ALLIANCE

A mastermind alliance is built of two or more minds working actively together in perfect harmony toward a common definite object.

Step One: Determine Your Purpose

Step Two: Select the Members of Your Alliance

Choosing the people who will help you attain your goal must be done carefully.

The first quality is ability to do the job.

The other quality is the ability to work in a spirit of harmony.

Step Three: Determine Your Rewards

Step Four: Set a Time and Place for Meeting

There are four areas of focus for maintaining your alliance: confidence, understanding, fairness and courage.

No one's education is every complete.

From Napoleon Hill's Keys To Success

NAPOLEON HILL'S KEYS TO SUCCESS (#1)

KEY #1: DEVELOP DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE

Your progress toward success begins with a fundamental question: Where are going.

Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.

The difference between a wish and a burning desire is crucial. Everyone wants the better things in life -- money, fame, respect -- but most people never go beyond just wishing for them.

There is a proverb which says:

"If you would plant for days, plant flowers.

If you would plant for years, plant trees.

If you would plant for eternity, plant ideas."

As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "One single idea may have greater weight than the labor of all the men, animals and engines for a century."

Definiteness of purpose develops self-reliance, personal initiative, imagination, enthusiasm, self-discipline, and concentrated effort. All these are required for success.

Definiteness of purpose makes you aware of opportunities related to your major purpose, and it inspires the courage to act on them.

Ninety-eight out of a hundred people never make up their mind about their major purpose in life.

Your mind becomes sold on success and refuses to accept the possibility of failure.

Any dominating idea, plan, or purpose held in your conscious mind through repeated effort and emotionalized by a burning desire for its realization is taken over by the subconscious and acted upon through whatever natural and logical means may be available.

Great success is the result of one's understanding and using a positive mental attitude (PMA).

You must write it down...Once you have written your plan, read it aloud to yourself at least once every day. This fuels your obsession and reinforces its nature in your mind.

There is no scarcity of opportunity. There is only a shortage of imagination.

From Napoleon Hill's Keys To Success

By Napoleon Hill