Success, in its broadest meaning, is not limited to just money and material possessions. It comes in just as many forms and different varieties as there are people in the world.

The universal spirit of consciousness, which I usually refer to as just The Universe or Nature, craves to continuously manifest and express itself; this universal power longs to demonstrate success, it naturally wants to develop, to grow and become bigger and stronger.

However, for many people this longing and natural inclination for growth is repressed because of negative thinking, unconstructive programming, and not having enough faith in their abilities and themselves.

Every person has a dual nature. One wants the self to move forward while the other feels like pulling back. The one nature that you cultivate and concentrate on determines which one is predominant in your life, as both natures try to hold on and be in control.

Your “will” resolves the issue alone. You can, by one utmost attempt of the “will”, change your whole vocation and accomplish miracles. This is why having an open mind is very significant.

With a closed mind you grab onto a concept without much concern for evidence. You might have even arrived at that concept without any material evidence to support it. As a result, when you’re presented with evidence that is contradictory to that concept, you immediately dismiss it.

On the other hand, if you have an open mind, you consider all the evidence for every interpretation – supportive or non-supportive – before you reach any conclusion. You don’t just gather information. Your concern encourages you to weigh what you’ve learned and work toward reaching a decision or conclusion based on those facts and evidences.

An open mind allows you to attract opportunities as well as insist on and continue to follow those opportunities, regardless of how small they appear. An open mind is open to all opportunities and possibilities, big or small.

However, when your mind is closed, you're stubborn, wanting what you envision without any delay and wanting it exactly as you perceive it to be. You’re not willing to accept or try something else in its place, when your desire or goal can’t be accomplished or reached.

When you close your mind and become stubborn, you in essence tell your higher self, including the “powers of the universe”, that you’re not willing to mature and encounter new things. When this happens there will be no progress and no transformation and things in your life will never have a chance to improve.

Whatever your mind can envision, your mind can create. What the mind sees, believes, feels and thinks is all conveyed to the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind then works along with the laws of Nature to establish your reality centered on what your conscious mind believes.

Bear in mind though, that it is not enough to merely imagine and hope it materializes (“it” being whatever you desire). Having the power to imagine also means having the power and the capability to actually work on achieving it.

You can achieve your goals when you open up your mind to success and get rid of limiting thoughts. As to how restricted your life may be and what your circumstances really are at the moment, doesn’t really matter. When you decide to change your attitudes and thoughts, and begin to think without notable limitations, your life’s direction will begin to change.

Focus on possibilities, rather than limitations and expand your thoughts to what it is you believe you are or have.

Here are some suggestions on how to re-program your thoughts for success:

1. Continuously and abundantly display images of your “model” person, the kind of person you want to become, and things that you want to accomplish. Read magazines containing stories and pictures of the kind of life that you wish to attain.

2. Read autobiographies of successful people. Constantly read self-improvement materials packed with examples and ideas of women and men who had set goals, overcome hardships and misfortunes and accomplished what they aimed for.

3. Always affirm yourself. For each of your desires or goals, take the time to focus, “close your eyes” and set a clear mental image of the outcome. Then repeatedly say and claim that you have already achieved it.

4. Nourish your mind with positive thoughts before sleeping, after waking up, during your lunch break, on the drive home, anytime. Do not give negative thoughts a chance to enter into your mind. When they do (which is only human), acknowledge them and then say something like “okay, but this is (think the positive thought) how it really is”.

Thoughts hold great power. Be aware of the thoughts that comes into your mind; let the positive energy in, don't give in to the negative. Open up your mind to possibilities and never be afraid to try; if you fail, look at it as a lesson learned and try again.

© September 3, 2006

P.S.  For a complete course on how to change your life to exactly what you want it to be, check out the book Take Back Your Power!