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CategoriesSuccess is a State of Mind
By Femi Adebanji, 26.09.11 | Comments
The first step to becoming successful is developing the habit of “thinking about what we are thinking about”. In other words we must start paying more attention to our thought patterns and behaviour. Instead of thinking and behaving in an automatic manner we need start being more alert regarding what is going on in our head. We need to start thinking.
In my experience, I have found repeatedly that one of the most difficult things for human beings to do is to think and think originally. Thinking requires work and many find it much easier just to respond in a habituated manner. This is one of the reasons why the highly successful form only a very small percentage relative to the vast majority of the population. The display of “Herd Instinct” or “Group Think” is evidence of this behaviour. Given our childhood conditioning, as adults we develop the belief that to not be ostracised, we need to think and behave like those around.
To maintain a sense of belonging, we benchmark our ambitions and goals relative to those around us – what they achieve is an estimation of what we can achieve. We dare not look beyond or dream greater dreams. We finally believe in our minds that reaching far beyond what those around us have achieved is both impossible and will be considered a deviation from the norm.
We bound our potential with this sort of thinking and more often than not it becomes so subliminal that we are no longer even aware.. Those that have been able to understand and apply this “thinking-phenomenon” this have propelled themselves to levels of wealth that are far beyond the comprehension of many and continue to achieve greater still. By understanding the power of being perpetually alert to their states of mind, they have gone on to build empires for themselves, often times starting with nothing.
By being alert to our patterns of thought and ensuring that we maintain a positive mindset as often as possible, we are better positioned to take corrective action when we encounter challenges or setbacks on the road to achieving success.
In my experience, I have found repeatedly that one of the most difficult things for human beings to do is to think and think originally. Thinking requires work and many find it much easier just to respond in a habituated manner. This is one of the reasons why the highly successful form only a very small percentage relative to the vast majority of the population. The display of “Herd Instinct” or “Group Think” is evidence of this behaviour. Given our childhood conditioning, as adults we develop the belief that to not be ostracised, we need to think and behave like those around.
To maintain a sense of belonging, we benchmark our ambitions and goals relative to those around us – what they achieve is an estimation of what we can achieve. We dare not look beyond or dream greater dreams. We finally believe in our minds that reaching far beyond what those around us have achieved is both impossible and will be considered a deviation from the norm.
We bound our potential with this sort of thinking and more often than not it becomes so subliminal that we are no longer even aware.. Those that have been able to understand and apply this “thinking-phenomenon” this have propelled themselves to levels of wealth that are far beyond the comprehension of many and continue to achieve greater still. By understanding the power of being perpetually alert to their states of mind, they have gone on to build empires for themselves, often times starting with nothing.
By being alert to our patterns of thought and ensuring that we maintain a positive mindset as often as possible, we are better positioned to take corrective action when we encounter challenges or setbacks on the road to achieving success.
About The Author:
Femi Adebanji is the Director of the Mind-Advance Institute and is a sought-after speaker and motivator. As a Motivation Consultant, he works with individuals and companies to design plans of action to realise their potential, achieve their goals, become more effective and maximize performance.
He is a regular editorial contributor to the Business Day and the Sowetan newspapers on issues of motivation, performance excellence and success strategies.
He is also featured as an expert columnist in the South African version of the internationally acclaimed Entrepreneur Magazine and his motivational articles are published on numerous local and international websites. He holds a Masters degree in Financial Economics and an Honors degree in Economics.
More info: mind-advance.com