Seven crippling mentalities

Why is it that some people succeed and others don’t? Let’s look at the Bible for clues. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” What makes people succeed or fail is not outside them but within them. People fail because of the negative thoughts they think. These are disempowering thoughts and feelings that drain you of vital energy, needed for life’s pursuit.

They are your negative internal dialogues which form the basis of your behaviour. A Loser’s mentality A victim Mentality A paranoid mentality A jealous mentality “Life-is fixed” mentality (Flat-world mentality) Life-is-difficult mentality Selfish mentality 1. A Loser’s mentality People with a loser’s mentality feel inadequate. They say things like I’m ugly, I’m a loser. Nothing good can come out of me. I don’t have what it takes. They live in shame and depression. These people have no drive or low drive. Low selfconfidence. This is a disempowering mentality. Stop labeling yourself. Peel off that label now!

You should expect to win. There are people who do not expect to win. I heard someone say, “Blessed are they who don’t expect to win for they shall not be disappointed.” Expect to win but if you fail, pick yourself up and continue. Believe in yourself! Have faith in your God-given abilities.

At any given moment, the choices you see as possible are directly related to what you believe you can achieve. If you lack a strong belief in your own abilities and envision yourself achieving merely limited success, your mind can only access those answers which correspond to this limited vision. So, elevate your concept of what’s possible for you – you’ll become aware of far greater opportunities.

Those who understand the essence and goal of life do not believe that success depends on deceit. Only truth reveals the reality in the mind hence those who live on lies live in a dream world and remain captives of conscience in a world of hallucination. This they realize too

2. A victim Mentality. We live in a society where many people refuse to accept total responsibility for their lives

They blame other people or circumstances outside their control for their current situation. They look outward for scapegoats and seldom look inward to find solutions within themselves. They feel they are at the receiving end of all bad things. They are bitter and critical, unforgiving, depressed, suicidal.

They focus on what is not there, instead of what is there. They focus on the past. They spend a lot of time crying and talking about things in the past which by the way, they can do nothing about.

This “victim” orientation is detrimental to success and happiness because it denies the tremendous power within each person to substantially direct his or her own destiny. So, if your business, your department, or your life is not going as you would like, do not point fingers. The problem is not your boss. It is not your coworkers. It is not your spouse or your mother or father. Simply look in the mirror and you will see the person responsible for getting you where you are today.

After all, your present thinking and actions (or lack of actions) have created your present circumstances. If you continue to think and act in this manner, you will keep getting the same results. This is not to say you have control over every single event that comes into your life. You don’t. But you do choose your response to each event ... although you may not think of your responses as “choices” because they are ingrained habits which have become automatic over time. 3. A paranoid mentality - A paranoid person feels others are after him. He is defensive, protective and retreating. Such a person cannot work in a team. He or she is fearful, can’t trust anyone, suspects everyone, questions everything, and sees danger in everything. Whenever two people are talking, he or she feels he is the subject. 4. A jealous mentality - A jealous person feels others are better than him. He feels others are obstructing him or responsible for his failure (remember Cain/ Abel?) Jealous people feel they will do better if competitors don’t exist. They blame others for their setback. They constantly measure themselves by the performance of others. They always want to know what others are doing to gauge their own progress. Such people send spies to perceived competitors.

They get worried and jittery when their competitors take a major step. Such people plot the downfall of others. I believe you remember Joseph’s brothers. Jealousy robs the jealous person of peace and causes major distractions. Jealousy originates from failure to discover oneself - gifts and talents - natural endowments.

5. “Life-is fixed” mentality (Flat-world mentality)

They believe Nothing you do can change anything. They believe It’s no use trying and that destiny is fixed for everyone.

Such people are carefree and reckless with their lives. Like the first group, such people don’t aspire, initiate or create. For them there is no use trying as the outcome is already fixed no matter what one does.

No one can improve without change. But if you believe change is not necessary, you will not make any effort to make those changes. 6. Life-is-difficult mentality. This is characterized by fear. They see giants, mountains, obstacles, problems. They are paralyzed by fear, opposition and challenges. (What really maters is what happens within us).

There is no security upon this earth - only opportunity. Difficulties are what you make of them. 7. Selfish mentality. Selfish people live only for themselves. They ask, “What’s in it for me?” Their only motive for doing anything is their own profit. They don’t mind who is hurt as long they achieve their selfish aim. Such people use and dump others when they are no longer valuable to them. They have no permanent friends but interests. They are stingy and soon dry up. Successful people add value to others.

A positive attitude makes you look younger and more youthful. A negative attitude on the other hand, makes you look older than you are.

But, there is good news. Even if your past choices have been poor ones, you can still decide to change. The best way to bring about this change is through awareness -- by recognizing your habits and becoming conscious of your fundamental beliefs.

Your beliefs create your reality. When you make positive changes in your belief system, a corresponding positive change will take place in your level of achievement and level of fulfillment.

Recognize that success is not something that randomly happens to you; it is not an accident.

Rather, success springs from within you. It begins with the right attitude and is achieved through persistent action.

Take command of your future by accepting responsibility. It’s a life-changing principle!

With the right attitude, get ready to fly high this year. You are blessed in Jesus name.