Think and Grow Rich Summary – Part 10 | | Wealth For TeensWealth For Teens

OLD MAN WORRY

Worry is sustained fear caused by indecision. Therefore, it is a state of mind that can be controlled. Indecision creates an unsettled mind, which is helpless. There is only one cure for the ailments of “fearenza” and “worryitis”: the habit of making prompt, firm decisions and sticking to them. Worries usually fall away under the excitement of the decision to follow a definite plan of action.

Hill once interviewed a man who was about to be electrocuted in two hours. The prisoner was the calmest of eight men in the same cell. Hill asked him how it felt to know he was going into eternity in a short while. With a confident smile, he said, “It feels fine. Just think, brother, my troubles will be soon over. I have had nothing but trouble all my life. It has been a hardship to get food and clothing. Soon I will not need these things. I have felt fine ever since I learned for certain that I must die. I made up my mind then to accept my fate in good spirit.” While he spoke, he ate a dinner big enough for three men, apparently enjoying every mouthful. Decision made this man resigned to his fate. Decision can also reject unwanted circumstances.

The six basic fears create worries that result in indecision. Relieve yourself forever of the fear of death by reaching a decision to accept it as an inescapable event. Beat the fear of poverty by reaching a decision to make do with whatever wealth you can accumulate without worry. Put your foot on the neck of the fear of criticism by deciding not to worry about what others think, do, or say. Rid yourself of the fear of old age by reaching a decision to accept it not as a handicap but has a great blessing that carries with it wisdom, self-control, and understanding denied to all who are younger. Free yourself from the fear of bad health by deciding to think like a healthy person. Overcome the fear of loss of love by deciding to live without love if necessary.

Kill your worries in all forms by reaching a blanket decision that nothing that life has to offer is worth the toll that worrying takes on your future success. When you do this, you will have the peace of mind and confidence that brings happiness.

Anyone whose mind is filled with fear, not only destroys his own chances of intelligent action, he transmits this destructive force to the minds of everyone he meets and destroys their chances as well. Even dogs and horses, when their masters lack courage, behave accordingly.

The person who speaks their destructive thoughts will suffer the negative consequences in three different ways. First, his creative imagination becomes damaged. Second, the presence of destructive emotions in the mind develops a negative personality that repels people and often turns them against him. Third, and most important, the negative thought impulses imbed themselves in the subconscious mind of the speaker and influence all of his future thoughts and actions. When a thought is released, it spreads in every direction within hearing distance but also plants itself firmly in the releaser’s subconscious mind.

To be successful, you must find peace of mind and happiness. You can control your own mind by feeding it whatever thoughts you choose. Use this power constructively. If you can control your own thoughts, you can direct your destiny.

PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST NEGATIVE INFLUENCES

Men who accumulate great riches protect themselves from negative influences. The poor never do. Prepare your minds to resist this evil. Examine yourself carefully through the self-analysis questions provided below to determine whether you are susceptible. Hold yourself to a strict accounting in your answers so that you can better arm yourself against the hidden dangers that lurk in your own state of mind.

Use your will power to protect yourself against all negative influences, whether of your own making or from others. Put it into constant use until you build a wall of immunity against all negative influences in your own mind. Keep your mind closed against all persons who depress or discourage you in any way. Deliberately seek the company of those who influence you to think and act for yourself.

To learn who you really are, ask yourself the following questions. Say your answers aloud because hearing your own voice will help you be more truthful with yourself.

1. Do you complain often of feeling bad; and, if so, what is the cause?

2. Do you find fault with others at the slightest provocation?

3. Do you frequently make mistakes in your work; and, if so, why?

4. Are you sarcastic and offensive in your conversations?

5. Do you deliberately avoid associating with anyone; and, if so, why?

6. Do you suffer frequently from indigestion; and, if so, what is the cause?

7. Does your life seem futile and your future hopeless; and, if so, why?

8. Do you like your occupation; and, if not, why?

9. Do you often feel sorry for yourself; and, if so, why?

10. Are you jealous of those who are more successful than you are?

11. Do you spend more time thinking of success or failure?

12. Are you getting more or less self-confident as you grow older?

13. Do you learn from your mistakes?

14. Are you letting relatives, friends, or acquaintances worry you; and, if so, why?

15. Are you sometimes ecstatic and other times deeply depressed?

16. Who inspires you the most and why?

17. Do you tolerate negative or discouraging influences that you can avoid?

18. Do you sometimes not care about how you look; and, if so, when and why?

19. Are you avoiding troubles by preoccupying yourself with busy work?

20. Would you consider yourself weak if you let others do your thinking for you?

21. Do you neglect mental and emotional cleansing until auto-intoxication makes you ill-tempered and irritable?

22. Do you use liquor, narcotics, or cigarettes to quiet your nerves? If so, why not try will power instead?

23. Does anyone nag you; and, if so, for what reason?

24. Do you have a definite major purpose; and, if so, what is it and what plans do you have for achieving it?

25. Do you suffer from any of the six basic fears; and, if so, which ones?

26. Do you have a method to protect yourself from the negative influence of others?

27. Do you use auto-suggestion to make your mind positive?

28. Which do you value more: your possessions or the ability to control your thoughts?

29. Do you let yourself be easily influenced by others against your own judgment?

30. Have you added anything of value to your knowledge or state of mind today?

31. Do you face the problems that make you unhappy directly or sidestep them?

32. Do you analyze all mistakes and try to learn from them or is this too much trouble?

33. What are three of your greatest weaknesses, and what are you doing to correct them?

34. Do you encourage others to bring their worries to you for sympathy?

35. Do you choose lessons or influences from your daily experiences that help your personal development?

36. Do you usually have a negative influence on other people?

37. What habits of other people annoy you most?

38. Do you form your own opinions, or let yourself be influenced by other people?

39. Have you created a mental state that protects you from all discouraging influences?

40. Does your occupation inspire you with faith and hope?

41. Are you able to keep your mind free from fear?

42. Does your religion help you keep your own mind positive?

43. Do you feel it’s your duty to share other people’s worries; and, if so, why?

44. What have you learned about yourself by studying the people that you attract?

45. Do you see a connection between your closest associates and your unhappiness?

46. Could your “friend” be your worst enemy if he negatively influences your mind?

47. By what rules do you judge who is helpful and who is harmful to you?

48. Are your closest associates more or less smart than you are?

49. In 24 hours, how much time do you devote to:

50. Who among your associates:

51. What is your greatest worry, and why do you tolerate it?

52. When others offer you unsolicited advice, do you accept it without question or do you analyze their motives?

53. What do you desire most? Do you intend to acquire it? Are you willing to push back all others desires for this one? How much time do you devote to acquiring it daily?

54. Do you change your mind often; and, if so, why?

55. Do you usually finish whatever you begin?

56. Are you usually impressed by professional titles, college degrees, or wealth?

57. Are you easily influenced by what others say or think about you?

58. Do you cater to people because of their social or financial status?

59. Who do you think is the greatest person living? Why is this person better than you?

60. How much time did you devote to studying and answering these questions? (At least one day is necessary to analyze and answer the entire list.)

If you answered all of these questions honestly, you know more about yourself than most people know themselves. Study these questions carefully, come back to them each week for several months, and benefit from the additional knowledge of great value to yourself you will have by simply answering these questions repeatedly. If are not sure how to answer some of these questions, ask someone you know well who is not likely to flatter you and see yourself through their eyes. Be prepared to be enlightened.

The only thing you have absolute control over is your own thoughts. Through controlling your thoughts you can control your destiny. If you cannot control your own mind, you cannot control anything else. Of all your possessions, your mind is the most valuable. Protect it and use it with care. Unfortunately there is no legal protection from others damaging your mind with negative suggestions.

Men tried to tell Thomas Edison he could not build a machine that could record and reproduce the human voice. Edison did not listen to them and succeeded. Men told F.W. Woolworth he would go broke trying to run a store on five and ten cent sales. He did not believe them. Ignoring them, he piled up a fortune of more than $100,000,000. Men told George Washington he could not win against the vastly superior British forces. Now, few recall the name of Lord Cornwallis while we live freely under the Stars and Stripes. Men scoffed at Henry Ford when he test drove his first crudely built automobile on the streets of Detroit. Some said no one would pay money for such a contraption. Ford said, “I’ll belt the earth with dependable motor cars,” and he did.