The Magic of Thinking Big – Book Review

Hey everyone!  The first few posts of the month are normally book reviews, because I have a goal to finish two books a month.  I like to write about what I learned from each book in hopes that it will help you too, and it also helps solidify the principles in my mind.

This post is about The Magic of Thinking Big, by David J. Schwartz.  I apparently read (or started to read) this book when I was fifteen years old.  I know this because I found a piece of paper stuck in the middle of the book which said, “In ten years, I’ll be twenty-five…”  😉

If you have never read this book, make it the next book you read.  Period.  Especially if you struggle with a low self-esteem or are frustrated with your results in your life, work, or relationships.

Basically, this book says you become what you think about.  Think you’re going to fail?  You probably will.  Think you’ll do great?  Success is yours.

Not only does Schwartz make incredible points, he uses stories to creatively illustrate them!  There are so many things I learned from this book, but I don’t have enough time to write all of them.  Therefore, I will pick a few things to say – a few of the best points that stuck with me.

1 – Choose to think positively.

Schwartz calls it “tuning into channel P” for Positive, or hiring “Mr. Triumphiant.”  Mr. Triumphiant tells you all the reasons why you CAN.  Choose to listen to Mr. Triumphiant instead of Mr. Defeat by speaking positively to yourself.  Mr. Triumphiant will bring up all sorts of memories of times when you succeeded:

“You are going to succeed today – remember that one time when you did such and such and it was a great success?”

“The meeting will go well – remember that other time when you did well in front of people?”

“Today is a wonderful day – remember all of your blessings?”

Etc..

Fire Mr. Defeat, because he tells you all the reasons why you CAN’T.  Who needs that?

2 – Choose to surround yourself with stimulating activities.

In other words, don’t sit around watching TV and doing the same thing every day.  Mix it up!  Make sure to get some exercise often, engage in thought-provoking activities such as fun games with friends, hang around with those who will encourage you, learn something new, read positive material that moves you forward in life, listen to positive audio for the same reason, etc…

I can’t stress enough how crucial this is.  But knowing it is one thing, doing it is another.  Stay active physically and mentally to move forward in your life, or you won’t be ready when the opportunities come – or worse, you’ll miss them entirely.

3 – Get rid of “Excusitis.”

Excusitis is a disease that has always existed, but which Schwartz named in his book.  In addition, he names the four types of Excusitis and how to cure yourself of them:

A – Health Excusitis – “I’m just not healthy enough, strong enough, or good enough.”

B – Intelligence Excusitis – “I’m really not smart enough.”

C – Age Excusitis – “I’m too old or too young.”

D – Luck Excusitis – “I’m different – I attract bad luck.”

None of these excuses are legit.  In EVERY case, I would bet you could find someone who is not as healthy as you, not as smart as you, older or younger than you, who seems to get the short end of every stick, who is STILL a success!  There are endless stories of such people.  GET RID of these excuses!  They’ll only hold you back.

Summary

Now, I’m not saying these life changes are going to be easy, but easy wasn’t promised – significance was.

Best-selling author Chris Brady says (and he might have quoted this from elsewhere, but I don’t think so…), “There’s no significance in a safe life, and there’s no safety in a significant life.”

Choosing to be positive and participate in uplifting activities will be hard.  Going against the average is ALWAYS hard.  But is it worth it?

Countless people who have done so will answer –

Yes.

 

Until next time,

Hope Frances