Originally posted on La Vie En Fifi, 17 November 2009
I used to listen a lot to tapes of business dynamos like Tony Robbins and Brian Tracy hoping they would turn me into a corporate go-getter. Well that didn’t happen, but I did learn a lot of interesting and useful information.
One of the best was a Brian Tracy series: The Universal Laws of Success and Achievement. Here are some of my favourite ‘laws’ from the first session: The Laws of Success. I already know they apply to everything in life, but coming back to them after reading all the French Chic books I have, was surprised how much they apply to creating a more European lifestyle too.
Thoughts objectify themselves. You become what you think about.
To achieve success in any area, you must have a clear image of that success in your mind – a mental picture of your idea of success.
Your outer life will mirror your inner life. There is a direct correspondence between your experiences and your thoughts and attitudes.
Whatever you believe… deeply… becomes your reality.
What you truly value and believe in is reflected in your actions, even though your words may say otherwise.
Whatever you concentrate on and think about repeatedly, becomes more a part of your inner life, and consequently your outer life.
Virtually all we do is automatic, the result of habit. Habits that move us away from our goals must be changed.
You are a living magnet. You attract people, events and circumstances that harmonise with your dominant thoughts.
You are free to choose what you think about, and therefore free to choose all other parts of your life.
A positive mental attitude goes with success and happiness. Optimism makes you cheerful and pleasant, and more likely to succeed.
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I especially like the last two. I think things do seem to go your way more when you are happy and I'm sure people definitely respond to the positivity of others. The 'living magnet' one too made me think of all the lovely bloggers I've 'met' and blogs I have read on the subjects of French chic, simple living, living well with less, downsizing and frugality.
Image from Hip Paris blog, with accompanying cool checklist on How to be a Parisienne
I really like this post! I often wonder how we've all "found" each other and it is interesting to think about especially since we come from all parts of the globe. It's exciting to think that it's within each of us to make the changes needed to become what we've dreamed of.
ReplyDeleteI've put a similar philosophy to work in my life over the last 30 years or so. You choose your thoughts, and what you think becomes reality are truths I've seen manifested over and over. The flip side of that is "what you resist, persists." Great post!
ReplyDeletei so agree. i came across this great quote that goes along with these thoughts.
ReplyDelete"worry is praying bad shit to come true."
when i read that i stopped in my tracks b/c i can tend to be a worrier. esp. about my sons. so no more worry for me, it changed my thought pattern.
have a lovely week fiona.
xo
I so agree, Fiona. These pearls of wisdom are the very reason I have a "chic" board in my office reminding me what chic looks, feels and acts like. There are days - many days - when I don't want to put forth the effort. But I look at the board and remember who I want to be. It's not about the big shifts, but the small thoughts that populate our mind.
ReplyDeleteMany days I wake up and immediately begin to worry - it seems to get worse as I get older which is interesting, because I have fewer things to worry about than I did a decade ago.
ReplyDeleteI must tell myself to switch my thinking from worrying to pleasant, self-soothing and positive thoughts. It really does work. The key is to notice what your thoughts are. It's easy to let them run wild and free!
Great post - just what I needed to read today.
One more thing...I love the quote Janet wrote in her comment. I may need to write that down and put it on my night stand.
ReplyDeleteI embrace optimism too Fiona!
ReplyDeleteYears ago I would worry and think of the worst case scenario and literally make myself ill. I had to do some serious work to reframe and retrain my thought patterns.
Can you imagine how happy we'd all be if worry was a thing of the past?
I love Janet's quote too, and like Adrienne, find I worry more now than when I was younger. I will worry no more.
ReplyDeleteI love Mark Twain's quote: Some really horrible things have happened to me. Thank God they didn't come true....
ReplyDelete