Think and Grow What???

I recently reread the 1937 version of Napoleon Hills’ “Think and Grow Rich”. Mr. Hill opens his first chapter with the phrase “Thoughts are Things”. He goes on to say that when we mix our thoughts with purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into riches or other material objects, these thoughts have the power to create what we are desirous of.  Wow. That’s quite a statement. I have picked this book up at least 15 times and started to read it.  There was always a distraction or a task that drew me away from my reading.  Finally, I refused to stop reading until the whole content of this wonderful book was read and digested.  What a treat I discovered!  I had often questioned why this book was part of recommended reading for starting a new business or recovering from a failed one.  I know that I have seen its title on the reading lists of Tony Robbins and nameless others.  I always wondered what made this one book so compelling. Now I know. Or do I know? After all, it’s been a bestseller since 1937 and continues to be relevant today.

So often, what happens to me when I read a book full of fabulous information, I fail to put my newly learned knowledge into practice.  Life seems to get in the way. I commit myself to hold only useful, positive thoughts in my mind and the next thing I know I’m back to my old, everyday way of thinking.  Shame on me! [Oops, I don’t think that will bring about good results in my life…]

One of the dimensions of my life that gets in my way is that I am still having trouble figuring out what my purpose in life is.  What is my passion? How do I define the reason that I have been placed on this earth??? What has stopped me from figuring out what I need to do to use the skills that I have developed over the last many decades??

I am sincerely envious of those people who have known what they were meant to do in life since they were very young.  I had friends that knew they needed to be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a teacher from the time they were in grade school.  What magical insight did they have and where did they get it?  I want some of that. 

OK, I’ll read the book again.  Maybe if I go through it one more time, the concepts will stick. Wait a minute.  What was it that Napoleon said at the beginning? That when we mix our thoughts with purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into riches or other material objects, these thoughts have the power to create what we are desirous of. Time to quit the pity party and get serious about my thoughts. 

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