Creating Your Beliefs
by Michael S. Clouse

I can still recall the conversation... My friend Tim had telephoned in a panic to ask, "What color is engine oil?"

I replied, "That depends. If you're asking about the color of new engine oil—somewhere between silky green and shiny brown. However, if you're asking about old oil—anywhere from dirty green to dull brown."

"Oh..." came Tim's somewhat surprised response. And then after pausing long enough to seemingly reflect on what I had said, he continued, "So why is mine bright red?" As it turned out, Tim—in a first attempt to change his own oil—had completely drained the transmission fluid from his truck! Not what he had intended at all...

What happened? Three things: 1) Tim believed he could change his oil. 2) Tim also believed he had the necessary tools to complete the job—wrench, drain pan, plus a few quarts of new engine oil he had picked up at the auto supply store. And perhaps the most important point of all: 3) What Tim believed was wrong! In fact, had he replaced the transmission drain plug, added five more quarts of oil, and started his engine—his actions, that sprang from what he thought he knew, would have cost him plenty!

So what about you? Ever been in a situation like Tim where you thought you knew the right course of action to take, and paid the price for some mistaken belief? And if you have, perhaps the real question you should be asking is, "How did I create my beliefs in the first place?"

Once you understand how you came to think the way you do, you will also come to realize that in fact you too possess the wisdom to alter, adjust, or amend anything in your life you're not excited about—and that's a good thing!

With this in mind, let's examine how you might have acquired your beliefs in the first place by considering the following seven clues:

1. "For as he thinketh within himself, so is he..."
   —Solomon
2. "The Vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart—this you will build your life by, this you will become."
   — James Allen
3. "Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."
   —William James
4. "First comes thought ... Then organization of that thought into ideas and plans. Then transformation of those plans into reality."
   —Napoleon Hill
5. "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't—you're right."
   —Henry Ford
6. "We become what we think about."
   —Earl Nightingale
7. "Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts."
   —William Hazlitt

It's true... Every belief—right or wrong—was created (and can be changed) using the following five-step process:

1. You acquired knowledge
2. You thought about that knowledge
3. You acted—or failed to act—upon that knowledge
4. You got results from your actions—or from your inactions
5. Your beliefs were initially created, then evolved or remain unchanged, based on your perception of reality....

Therefore, if you truly want to create a new belief: Acquire accurate knowledge, think on that knowledge, act on that knowledge, get better results because of that knowledge, and experience the awesome power of your mind!

All the best,

MSC

P.S. To better understand—and then utilize—the power
of your mind, listen to both these programs: TYW - AAM

About the author: In addition to over 50 published articles on the subject of Network Marketing, Michael S. Clouse is the author of numerous books and CD programs on the subject of Network Marketing. An internationally recognized Network Marketing expert, Michael is a well respected business consultant, personal success coach, and a dynamic educational speaker. His weekly newsletter is read by tens of thousands of Network Marketing Professionals around the world.