- Re-read: maybe, perhaps passages
- Grade: 4/5
TL;DR —> Whatever you believe with feeling becomes your reality
The book is similar in many ways to the 7 habit habits of highly successful people and specially to Think and Grow Rich. However, to me the other books are of greater value. The former has a better structure and the latter is more poetic. I lack the structure and the poetry in this book. Having said, reading the book a pleasure. It reinforces you with positive thoughts all the time. It also includes some action exercises to for example think about and write down your ideal self, or imagine that you are your own child, and what then could you do better to foster greater loving children. What I have troubles with is all the many laws and master program, master skills, master goal, master power, …. that are thrown at you. You have to make a big effort trying to organize the ideas. Summarizing:
- Know very clearly what you want, who is your ideal you, what is your ideal environment, relationships, etc.
- Surround yourself only of those thoughts, relationships, learning material, images, big etc. that are aligned to your ideal. Forget the rest.
- To work towards a goal, use the exercises: write it down, visualization, affirmation, verbalization, move as if you already had it, feed your mind with all the necessary content, associate with positive people, teach it to others, set a deadline, believe you can do it, be clear about your starting point, have a way to measure, know when you’ve reached your goal, identify the obstacles that stand in your way, identify what information you need, identify the people you need, make a plan, persist.
- Again: visualize clearly what you want, and feed your environment with nothing but that image. Believe you can make it and feel and act as if you already had it.
- Corresponding laws he talks about:
- Law of attraction: you will attract that what you think about and what you are.
- Law of substitution: we can really only have one thought at a time. Therefore, if you find yourself with a negative thought or behavior, replace it by a poisitive one
- Law of Belief & Expectations: believe that you can do it, that you already have it, and expect always the best from every situation (in any case, I sense the man is also very realistic and often confronts you to be truly honest with yourself about your current situation, even it hurts, for it’s the only way to move on, take responsibility, and work on improving your life)
- Another idea for attaining goals: think of the worst possible outcome. Be very clear about it and how much it could hurt you. Accept it as possible outcome of your venture. But then set yourself in action and put the measures so that the worst doesn’t happen
- Quote I found on Wikipedia by Brian Tracy: "You are the architect of your own destiny; you are the master of your own fate; you are behind the steering wheel of your life. There are no limitations to what you can do, have, or be. Except the limitations you place on yourself by your own thinking."
- In the of the book, he concentrates on improving human relationships (people in general, loved one, children). Summarizing: give you attention to people, listen to them, acknowledge them, praise them, expect from them the best, love your children unconditionally, just be kind, do unto others what you want they do unto you, pay attention to little things, bring always positive thoughts to people, be able to forgive and move on, respond with love upon wrong doings, set the example for the changes you want to see. BRING VALUE TO THE WORLD.
I also copy a whole paragraph that I found truly inspiring, on changing your world:
You cannot change the world, but you can present the world with one improved person, yourself. You can go to work on yourself to make yourself into the kind of person you admire and respect. You can become a role model and set a standard for others. You can control and discipline yourself to resist acting or speaking in a negative way toward anyone for any reason. You can insist upon always doing things the loving way rather than the hurtful way.
Simply, we are responsible for our lives, do and get what you want.