Faith
“Gandhi wields more potential power than any man living …, despite the fact that he has none of the orthodox tools of power, such as money, battle ships, soldiers, and material of warfare.”
– Napoleon Hill – Think and Grow Rich
When was the last time that you told your spouse, child, friend, employee, co-worker, “I have faith in you, I believe that you are going to be successful?” Here is the sad part, when was the last time you looked at yourself in the mirror and told yourself that you had faith in you and that you believed that you were going to be successful?
I have always believed in the adage, “If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will?” Napoleon Hill’s story about Mahatma Gandhi having all the power without having all the traditional tools of one of the most powerful people in the world helped him to better understand and live the Principle of Faith.
Gandhi had over 200 million followers and all he owned were some slippers, his clothing, and a pair of glasses. And this is a guy who was educated as a lawyer. But because he believed in his path, and those around him to such an extent, he earned their respect and loyalty.
I’m not asking you to throw away everything you have earned to live this life. This was his path and he made the most of his strengths. But do you live in the warmth of faith and belief? Do you look at yourself in the mirror and turn away because you’re disappointed in who you are right now? Does your family respect you? Your employer? Your employees?
If you “think so” or “some do” then maybe the problem is you. That’s not the end of the world. Your story is still being written. Remember, Gandhi still had people who did not buy into his ways. But this didn’t stop him from doing his best to earn their support.
All too often we are so busy trying to be everything to everybody that “we” get lost in the chaos that our life spins into.
Start with you. Believe in yourself. That’s where it all must start. Set out small goals and hit them. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Continue to use positive language when you speak to yourself. When you start building your confidence in yourself you will feel the warmth of having faith in yourself and you will understand how powerful believing in yourself can be.
While you are getting yourself online, start telling those who are around you that you have faith in them or that you believe in them. You never know who is waiting for that push. Let me give you an example of when this happened in my life.
In 2013, when I was coaching with the Seattle Seahawks, the team was on the verge of being pretty good. But we were missing one thing. Permission. The head coach was a top-rate motivator. Prior to 2013, he did not talk about winning the Super Bowl, he always talked about winning the West, The Western Division of the NFC. If you win your division you were assured of at least one home playoff game. But more importantly, you were part of the playoffs. In 2013 he came into a team meeting and said, “This team is good enough to win the Super Bowl.”
Because he had never put it out there in these terms this was huge for the team. But he used it very strategically. He waited for the right time to lift the team. Some may say, “Well had he done it other years maybe …” I counter that argument by saying that too many platitudes will dilute the truth. Our first season we were 7-9 and got lucky to get in the playoffs. If he had said it then and then the next year when we were 7-9 and then the next, and the next … the players would have not reacted to this pronouncement. He knew how good this team was and the important thing was they felt it too, they just needed that lift. And we did go on to win the Super Bowl.
So, in your life who is on the verge of success and is waiting for you to give them permission to be great. Maybe it’s your child, your partner, or a friend, always support them, but when they are on the verge of turning a corner, then give them permission. Let them know that you are behind them and they have done everything right and they are worthy of the good things that are coming their way.
They will have always felt your support, but you are lifting them to that next level, this will have long-lasting value. Once they are on their way continue to support them with your words and actions.
What happens if they fall short? It will happen. Be there and help them pick up the pieces and get them back on track. After failing 10,000 times to make a viable lightbulb, Thomas Edison did finally accomplish his goal, when asked how he had continued after “failing” that many times he replied, “I have not failed 10,000 times, I just found 10,000 ways that it won’t work”.
Would you have the courage to fail 10,000 times before you would quit? It had to be difficult, but Edison and his team of scientists at Menlo Park knew the answer was out there so they continued on their journey.
You can do the same. Believe in yourself. Believe in those around you. And you too will accomplish amazing things. But it starts with YOU … believing in YOU!!!
