The Man Who Thinks He Can

“I was going to buy a copy of "The Power of Positive Thinking", and then I thought: What the hell good would that do?”

-- Ronnie Shakes

The Man Who Thinks He Can
Walter D. Wintle

If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win, but think you can't,
It's almost a cinch you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellows will;
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you're outclassed, you are;
You've got to think high to rise.

You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

"A critical aspect of The Law of the Garbage Truck is to distinguish between making judgments and having preferences, and always focusing on what matters."

-- David J. Pollay

I received the following in an email this morning, discovered it was the subject of a recent book by David J. Pollay  and thought it was just too good not to share.

Law of the Garbage Truck
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving
in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space
right in front of us.  My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and
missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his
head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved
at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and
sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the
Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full
of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes
they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.

Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and
spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take
over their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,
so ... Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have a garbage-free day!

Sit Up Straight

“If you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience.”

 -- Swami Vivekananda

You must have noticed how a person who is in a miserable mood usually slouches in their chair. Their shoulders are slumped and their head is often bent forward - eyes to the ground.   
If you find yourself with your head lowered and your back bent over, ask yourself "How am I feeling right now?"  Then hold your head up and straighten your back. You will probably notice that you actually feel better.  It's another example of changing your reaction when you cannot change the event.

While researching this phenomenon I came across what appeared at first to be conflicting findings regarding potential harm to your back by sitting straight.  However, those who claim that sitting straight causes undue strain to be placed on the disks in your spine are referring to sitting in a rigid position with your back at 90 degrees, and those who recommend sitting straight are actually talking about your back reclined slightly at an angle of 100 to 130 degrees. Many call this the "relaxed" position. It is clear that sitting absolutely rigid can be at least as harmful to your back as slouching.

Our body posture can affect not only what others think about us, but also how we think about ourselves. Studies show that sitting up straight in your chair isn’t just good for your posture – it also gives you more confidence in your own thoughts thereby improving your mood.  So it looks as if all those mothers out there know what they are talking about.

When you are preparing for putting your mind to work on the solution to a problem, get comfortable, sit proud, and even try smiling a little.  It won't hurt and it helps put you in a positive mood.  All of your mindful sessions should begin with these easy steps because you are then prepared for success.

Heal Thyself

“These then are my last words to you. Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.”

-- William James

I had planned to write about today's topic after a good deal more discussion of positive thinking examples, but I have not been able to focus on anything else this week. You might say I wanted to "ease" into the subject of healing because it seems to be the hardest concept to accept and actually put into practice. But for some reason thoughts about healing have over-shadowed everything else I had in mind. I will start with a personal story.

At the age of 39 I discovered a tumor. It was a kind of cancer that typically occurs in men between 35 and 40 called seminoma. I had surgery followed by radiation therapy, and the treatment was a complete success. Fortunately it is one of the most curable forms of cancer if caught at an early stage.  That was over 30 years ago.

Moving to the present, I recently had a conversation with our younger daughter who brought up her recollection of that experience and the impact it had on the family, particularly her as a young girl of 10. She recalled how bad I looked while going through the treatments and said that she had been afraid that something would happen to me.   

That was the first I had heard about the emotional impact that experience had on her. It brought tears to my eyes to think of what she must have suffered herself. So I was naturally curious if her older sister had the same recollections of that time. When I asked her she said that she had never feared I was going to die, and she had been certain I would be OK. When I asked how she could have been so sure, her answer absolutely floored me. "Don't you remember?" she asked. Then she related a story of how I had told her I was making pictures in my head of a tiny Pacman gobbling up any cancer left in my body.  I had forgotten about my using creative visualization* which I first read about in a book of that title by Andrew Wiehl. 

Since that time I have come to the conclusion that you need to be careful about phrasing what you wish for. In her wonderful book, "The Secret", Rhonda Byrne says that you can attract more of what you don't want if that's what you think about. For example, thinking "I do not have cancer, I do not have cancer" attracts more cancer. What you want to attract is better health. I would go so far as to say that your mind knows when you are lying to yourself. Also, it does not make sense to have the notion that you are thinking positively while using negative words. Any word that has the contraction of "not" is negative just as the word "not" itself is negative. the word "cancer" is about as negative as you can get. So what I suggest is that you rephrase your thinking into something positive. For example -

• "I enjoy life so much, and I am healthy in every way."
• "I can sense that I am getting better each and every day."
• "I feel myself healing"

And don't forget to be thankful for what you have and to express your thanks when you are finished.
I am not suggesting that if you suffer from an illness of any kind that you substitute these methods for conventional medical care.  However, putting your mind to the task of healing has been demonstrated time and time again to at least improve and sometimes turn around the course of a serious illness. At the very least it could help to speed your recovery.  It is also true that many doctors and medical practitioners agree that a patient's mental attitude often plays a part in whether they heal quickly or not.  So what I am suggesting is that if your doctor does not condone or believe in patients helping themselves, then put your hand over your back pocket or clutch your pocketbook and leave.  And once you have found a compatible doctor, work on your thinking with determination and the vengeance of a warrior.  (I read that someplace.  Sounds like a lot of vengeance to me.)

* From Wikipedia:

Creative visualization refers to the practice of seeking to affect the outer world via changing one's thoughts. Creative Visualization is the basic technique underlying positive thinking and is frequently used by athletes to enhance their performance. Creative visualization is the technique of using one's imagination to visualize specific behaviors or events occurring in one's life.

Putting Your Mind To It

"You can do anything if you put your mind to it."

-- Your mother

How many times have you heard this as a kid growing up?

How many times have you said it to someone yourself?

"Just put your mind to it." Words of wisdom that have survived the ages, but what does it mean exactly? I wonder if anyone has ever responded, " Oh, yeah, thanks. I forgot to put my mind to it. Now I can get 'er done!"

I repeat: the question is, what does that mean exactly? Is it the same thing a "making up your mind to do something"?

Well , where I come from, the expression "make up your mind" has the connotation of making a choice such as between doing something... or not. On the other hand, putting your mind to a task is a friendlier way of saying "You have to be applying your mind to accomplish that." One could even say that both steps are required to accomplish something mindfully.

Step 1. Make up your mind you are going to accomplish something.

Step 2. Apply your mind to the task.


Step 1 is easy. "Yep, I am going to do it, by golly."

Step 2, not so easy. Why?  My guess is that most people stop right there without giving it another thought. Yes! thought. You knew that's what this is all about, right?

Let's ask this question: What does the mind do? Now whether this is scientifically correct or even spiritually correct, let's separate these two things: a.) brain; b.) mind. For brain I am referring to the functions of the brain that control our bodies without the slightest conscious effort from us such as our lungs breathing and our heart beating. For the mind I am referring to the conscious effort of ... (have you thought of it yet?)  thinking! Yes indeed. Putting your mind to it means you have to think about it.

So to accomplish something mindfully you have to think about it. That makes sense doesn't it?  I mean now that you think of it? ha ha.

This kind of effort does not mean turning off the TV, climbing into bed and trying to accomplish some serious thinking while your mind is trying to shut down for the day. In a lot of cases the thinking needs to evolve into one or more mindful planning sessions. Start with answering in your own mind "What is the problem here anyway? What do I want or need to accomplish?" Think hard about all the things that could be contributing to the problem or preventing you from reaching your goal. The answer may lie in solving one simple thing you had not even considered before. Getting a grip on the problem and its causes is key to arriving at a solution.

Be in a quiet place when doing this. Keep your eyes open, and stare at nothing in particular, maybe a blank spot on the wall. (No, not the ceiling. You are trying to stay awake, remember?).  After some focused thought, if nothing "comes to mind", ask for help. Without addressing your request to any one or any thing in particular, think (out loud if you want to) "I need some help here. I am seeking a solution." Then give it a rest and come back to it the next day.

Another word of advice is to avoid being too specific about the solution you are seeking. The best example of focusing on a specific outcome that I can think of is a person who is having trouble financially devoting all their thoughts to winning a big lottery. First of all you can't win if you don't buy a ticket so if you are strapped for money why waste it?  Second of all being really mindful about winning the lottery does not seem to improve the odds. At least it hasn't worked form me.

Thinking about getting rich when you are poor is probably one of the most common daydreams there is, but your subconscious mind knows when a specific wish is not likely to come true. There are valid approaches that are much more likely to produce positive results than to wish for the near impossible. By the way, your mind also knows when you are lying to yourself, but more on that in a later post. 

A more positive approach to getting results in cases of want is to think about how grateful you are for what you already have. I realize this is a huge generalization and over-simplifies the process. But it is a big first step toward grasping the concept of reversing a negative trend in your life by reversing the way you have been thinking about it. This goes for your health, your job, your relationships, your creativity, your performance in sports, and the list goes on. All of these things are influenced by your mind.

I Think I Can

      "I Think I Can"

       -- The Little Engine That Could


This is an unscheduled post which was prompted by an event in my life that happened just last night. It was a good-bye party hosted by a group of coworkers whom I have gotten to know over a period of 16 years.  Our particular team had been terminated rather unexpectedly.  We were responsible for the software development, maintenance and daily support of a computer application referred to as an annuity engine.  It is used in the management of private investments and happens to be the smallest such software platform in use at the company.  Small yes, but somehow always capable of being expanded to take on new lines of business and implement new and unique requirements where other larger engines were not adaptable.  The system became known as the little engine that could after the child's story and book by that name first published in 1930.

The point of the story is that when faced with a challenge where bigger and stronger engines had failed or been afraid, this little engine repeated over and over "I think I can. I think I can. I think I can." in a cadence that mimicked the chugging of a steam engine.  She was ultimately successful, and after she had met the challenge she repeated "I new I could.  I knew I could. I knew I could." 

At the aforementioned going-away party each of us who are leaving the company was presented with a copy of the little book.  I reread it this morning, and although I did recall the story, I had forgotten what a marvelous lesson it was and still is for young children.  It is a lesson in positive thinking that needs to be refreshed in our minds every so often, and although it can sometimes come too late in our lives, it can never come too early.

You Have To Think So

“You've done it before and you can do it now. See the positive possibilities. Redirect the substantial energy of your frustration and turn it into positive, effective, unstoppable determination.” 

-Ralph Marston

If I had to pick one word to describe the key element that will run throughout my posts concerning solving problems, overcoming illness; maintaining successful relationships; attaining success in business, having enough money, whatever, it would be "determination".  In his book Think and Grow Rich Napoleon Hill referred to it as a burning desire. He said "There is nothing, right or wrong, which belief plus burning desire cannot make real.  These qualities are available to everyone."   

I believe this with all  my heart. 

I remember a story about a man who had been to church one Sunday and the minister happened to be telling the well known story about a sick boy being brought to Jesus and his disciples for healing.  As hard as they tried the disciples could not drive out the demons from the boy, but Jesus rebuked the demon and the boy was healed from that moment.  When the disciples asked why they were unsuccessful driving out the demon Jesus replied "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." 

The man was so impressed with the story he decided to try it.  That night before going to bed he stared out of a window at the mountain in the distance.  He finally said to the mountain "I want you to move from here to there".  He then got into bed,  closed his eyes and went into a sound sleep. Upon awakening he immediately went to his window and seeing the mountain still exactly where it was the night before, he grunted and said out loud, "I didn't think so!"

What was missing from this man's approach to moving the mountain?  Did he believe it was even possible that he could cause the mountain to move just by commanding it to do so?  Did he have a burning desire to move the mountain, or was it just a silly test in which he had absolutely no faith?   Did he have any determination or work hard at putting his mind to the task? I don't think so. 
OK, so this is a ridiculous example to illustrate the point that determination requires work; sometimes a lot of work.  Determination means "putting your mind" to to the task, and that will be our next subject.