If you’re interested in manifesting success — and who isn’t — your first task is to define what success means to you. While some people may define success as acquiring sports cars, vacation homes, and expensive jewelry, other people may define success as achieving happiness, financial security, and a fulfilling lifestyle. Since it’s your life, it doesn’t make sense to pursue someone else’s idea of success, achievement, and fulfillment. Everyone’s interests, strengths, and passions are unique, and, as transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau famously said, it’s okay, if not desirable, to follow the beat of a different drummer.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.
Henry David Thoreau
When it comes to choosing “thoughts that work” for achieving happiness, financial security, and meaning in life, here are a few ideas to consider:
- If you derive meaning from nature, as Thoreau did, then a logical conclusion is that growth, expansion, and renewal are among the cornerstones of a meaningful life. Being stagnant generally feels frustrating and unfulfilling, while developing yourself, connecting with other like-minded people, and being action oriented feels good.
- We are all “creatures of habit,” a fact that can either work to your benefit or your detriment. While I’m reasonably sure that Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion were meant to apply only to physical objects, I believe they can also be used to explain human behavior and motivation. Newton’s first law of motion states that every object either remains at rest or moves at a consistent speed in a straight line UNLESS it’s compelled to change its direction or speed by the impact of an external force. So to simplify further: An object that is in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object that’s at rest, tends to stay at rest. One of the big differences between human beings and physical objects is that people can compel themselves to take action through a variety of means, including self discipline and developing mental toughness. External “forces” (such as a demanding parent or boss) can compel us to spring into action and complete a task, but self-motivation is a more powerful, effective, and creative force. When you can inspire and motivate yourself to pursue a goals or overcome obstacles, then your chances for long-term growth, achievement, and personal satisfaction are much greater.
So what does it take manifest your desires and propel yourself forward toward the attainment of your goals? In a nutshell, it comes down to three things: knowing what you want, cultivating the ability to believe in yourself, and developing a realistic plan of action self motivation.
Sounds simple, but it actually takes a tremendous amount of mental focus, persistence, and tenacity. Fortunately, there are plenty of books, videos, seminars, and inspirational websites to help you get moving in the right direction!
Thoughts that Work 