by Frantzley Moise | Photography by Dave Barfield
A primary key to success is to be positive. We must keep positive thoughts, affirm positive words, and follow through with positive actions. All three of these components are essential tools designed to help us achieve our greatest victories. When all three are used, we can have unlimited success with infinite possibilities.
Positive Thoughts
“Success begins with a fellow’s will. It’s all in a state of mind,” wrote Walter D. Wintle. Our minds have the power to put us in the winner’s circle. On the other hand, our minds also have the power to put us in loser lane. The perception of our present and future have a great impact on what our tomorrow will be. Positive thinking is an important power we must not take for granted and a power we must constantly access. Henry Ford once stated, “Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.” We cannot allow ourselves to be in the non-engaging category; rather we must actively take the time to engage in positive thinking if we desire a positive outcome. When farmers plant orange seeds, they expect orange trees and oranges, not apple trees and apples. Thus, when negative thoughts are planted in our minds, we will not get the positive outcome that we are seeking. We have to plant the positive to get the positive. This is the first and very important step in achieving success.
Positive Words
The next step to achieving success is just as powerful in the negative as it is in the positive: the power of words. As a child, I was told, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” I still live by these words today. The tongue has the ability to articulate what our future can and will be. Unfortunately, many use this superpower the wrong way. Many people have a bad habit of using words that tear down hope, dilute faith, and cloud vision. We should use words that elevate hope, build faith, and enhance vision. Muhammad Ali was a master at using words to forecast his future. It was before he became the greatest that he said “I am greatest.” Like Muhammad Ali, we can be champions of our faith just by using positive words that affirm our success. We should all utilize the following words in our daily climb towards achieving our victories: I can, I will, I am, and (one of my favorites) it’s possible. Our words have the ability to knockout our future, Therefore use winning words now to gain access to the winning circle later.
Positive Acts
The last step in our pursuit of success is positive action. What is positive action? Positive action is the execution of our positive words and positive thoughts. There are many reasons why many fail to achieve the byproduct of positive thoughts and positive words, but a primary reason is due to procrastination; it is notorious for impeding the progression of our positive action, and it can sometimes lead to inaction. Benjamin Franklin stated “You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.” As such, we have to ensure that we take steps every day in furtherance of our goals to success. It is through our actions that our thoughts and words are accomplished. It is in our doing where the victory is won.
We must plant the seeds of greatness, freedom, and success in our minds. We must cultivate those thoughts into words, and ultimately we must take the necessary actions to reach the pinnacle of success. Accordingly, be positive in thoughts, be positive in words, and be positive in actions.
