As a young boy, Norman Vincent Peale thought he lacked brains and ability. In one of his many books he wrote, “I constantly told myself that I had no brains, no ability; that I didn’t amount to anything and never would… I then became aware that people were agreeing with me; for it is a fact that others will unconsciously take you at your own self-appraisal.” A college professor said he was “disgusted” with Peale and asked him “Why do you go skulking through life like a scared rabbit?”
So it was working through his own challenging feelings of inferiority that led Dr. Peale to write The Power of Positive Thinking, his best-known book that has now sold over 20 million copies.
What is it that is holding you back? T. Harv Eker (Secrets of the Millionaire Mind) says we all have a “money blueprint.” Here’s how it seems to work. We all have a certain level of achievement we think we deserve. If a person gets over that level momentarily, it’s not uncommon to see that person subconsciously underachieve to regain the success level they believed was their limit.
I see this as people are looking for a new job. If they have been making $40,000 they will look at jobs in the $35-45,000 range. But if a position is available that fits their skill set perfectly and pays $75,000 they often don’t even apply. Their level of belief or of deserving doesn’t match that level of reward. Look at what happens to most lottery winners – within about 3 years most are right back at their previous level of having nothing. Their unexpected wealth didn’t match their sense of deserving, and they made the adjustments to bring things back into sync. Look at Pacman Jones and Plaxico Burress – they sabotaged their millions to match the real world as they see it.
I see a whole lot of confusing theology in this arena. Is it more Godly to expect riches or to be content with poverty? While space does not allow a full treatment of that hot potato here, rest assured that your beliefs in that area will likely be evident in your reality. Circumstances do not determine your well-being. If you think you’re a doofus, your world will confirm the truth of that belief. This is very much a head and a heart issue – be careful of the messages you’re telling yourself and those around you.
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“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” – Pope John XXIII
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What’s keeping you from achieving your dream? Take our poll at What’s Holding You Back?
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