I know what you’re thinking. “Here we go again with another article espousing the power of positive thought. Just what I need.”
But here’s the funny thing: it’s true. I know this because I’ve experienced it.
For me, the eye-opener happened years ago when I took a Dale Carnegie course. We did a demonstration where I stood up and held my arm out while the trainer tried to push down on it. But here was the caveat: he did this exercise twice. The first time, he told me to say aloud, “I am weak and worthless.” He told me to say it and believe it. And he also told me to fight him as he pressed down on my arm. I fought him as best I could, but he pressed my arm down fairly easily.
The second time, he told me to say — and believe — the words, “I am strong and worthy” (or something like that — it’s been years, so I don’t remember the exact words). He repeated the exercise. This time, I was able to keep my arm straight and stiff.
I sure became a believer that day.
Examples of this abound everywhere, especially in CrossFit. I wrote in a previous article that, at best, I could only stick with a fitness program for a few months. I’ve been going to CrossFit for almost two and a half years (28 months as of this article, to be exact, and counting). The primary reason why I’ve stuck with it is the support system. CrossFitters want you to succeed. They continually push you to be better. I remember watching the CrossFit games where the announcer said, “CrossFit is probably the only sport where the person who comes in last gets the loudest cheers.” I have made a number of friends through CrossFit, and I absolutely love the community.
During my junior year in college, I was struggling with something — I don’t remember what it was — and a classmate sent me his favorite poem, hoping it would pick me up. It did. It has since become one of my favorite poems as well. I have a small plaque with this poem hanging on the wall of my home office. I’ll look at it occasionally, whenever I feel the need.
Yeah, I realize “anti” or “uninspirational” quotes or memes are amusing, and I will admit that I do my fair share of dishing them out. But whenever I feel like I’m coming out on the losing end of something, I’ll try to put a positive spin on it. Don’t let negativity suck you into a black hole. As the poem says, “it’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.”
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