Too often, we are unable to change our lives because we cannot see beyond our own circumstances. This is precisely the closed-minded ignorance that keeps the majority from creating wealth, and instead, keeps the masses in the middle-ground limbo of being the working poor.
“Another weakness found in altogether too many people is the habit of measuring everything, and everyone, by their own impressions and beliefs. Some people who read this book will believe that no one can think and grow rich. They cannot think in terms of wealth and riches, because their thought habits have been steeped in poverty, want, misery, failure, and defeat.
You don’t have to look far for illustration of this point. Consider how you look upon people of other nationalities and cultures, physically. You think of your own appearance as the base for ‘normal’ and find their looks to be exotic and different. Few of us stop very often to consider that on the flip side, from the ‘outsider’s’ point of view, you are the person who looks unique.
Another simple case in point—accents. Wherever you are from, whatever the accent you speak with, that is what sounds ‘right’ or ‘normal’ to you. When a visitor from another part of the country or world arrives or moves in, you find their speech to be interesting, maybe even strange. No doubt, however, that same person is thinking the same of the way you, and nearly everyone else in your region, talks.
We recognize this phenomenon in modern society as a level of ignorance, yet, we have difficulty truly overcoming it, and sometimes even make conclusions about a person because they do not speak or look like us.”
A Change In Attitude
Changing even very small personal perceptions such as your attitude towards another person’s accent or physical appearance will elicit the kind of change in attitude needed to start seeing that there is more to life than your present circumstance, and that that better life is readily available to you if you have purpose of thought and determination.
I will see you back here every Monday and Thursday for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
i love this one sean bye.
Very good post Sean. Must say I agree. The over used adage “thinking outside the box” can certainly be applied to changing attitude. We will achieve success and growth by looking beyond what is easily visible, accessible and attainable.
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Hi Sean,
I think I can see further than my own circumstances. I don’t judge anyone by how they look, how they speak, what they wear or what they own.
I take everyone at face value and the only thing I judge them on is the way they treat me. I love the saying that you can’t judge someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes because you won’t know what you will do until you’re faced with the same set of circumstances.
One of my favourite ways to expand my view of what is possible for me, is to visit open houses that are a little out of my reach. As I walk around the house, I see myself having breakfast there, swimming in the pool, etc. It sounds crazy, I know, but it helps me to focus on my goals if I can touch the things I want.
Hi Sean,
I like your examples. These differences are easier to spot than the differences in mindset, but the mindset has the bigger influence (I think).
Maybe we can see the process to learn how to “think and grow rich” like learning a new language. It’s the language how I talk with myself and about certain topics with others. Learn and use the new language and you will be able to maneuver in that country called “success” easily. Don’t learn it and you will feel left out, lost and not belonging. And that might make you angry at the people that speak it easily.
I guess this is why successful people like to meet with other successful people, because they speak the same language, understand each other and feel accepted.
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