Secret to Success

Several months ago I was having a really rough day. I felt defeated, unsuccessful, and insignificant. I just wasn’t feeling my best and my physical and emotional appearances were showing that.

I went to the grocery store forcing my thoughts to say:

“I’ll just run in and out.”
“It won’t be that bad, I’ll be fast.”
“You won’t see anyone you know there; who cares that you don’t look put together!”

Just as I thought I made it out of there without talking to anyone a woman approached me. The shy girl in me tried to get me to look anywhere but at her, to turn down an isle and avoid the stranger, and to walk really fast and not give her the chance to talk to me.

This kind woman was too fast for me though. She caught me in the middle of an isle and I had no choice but to face her.

She said something that (1) made my day one million times better and (2) changed my perspective and helped me realize that I am my own worst critic.

This woman said something along the lines of, “You are so pretty. You look like a model!” I politely responded, “Thank you; that means so much to me,” and went on my way with a smile in my heart.

While I have no idea if she actually meant it or not (because truly, I felt like a train wreck) this kind lady made this comment that changed my thinking. Perhaps the comment was made because she could sense that I needed it, or maybe she made the comment because she wholeheartedly believed it. The answer is one I’ll never learn.

All I know is his stranger’s attitude spread like a virus and infected me forever.

This comment didn’t permanently cure all the negative thoughts I have about myself, but it was a huge leap in the right direction. On days when things feel out of control and unmanageable I remember I am my own worst critic. Things may be disorderly, but I have survived 100% of my worst days. I’ll survive the next one too.

You want to know what the secret to success is? Your attitude. What you think is what you do. If you want to be the best at what you do, start training your mind to believe you are the prime example. If you want to fix a broken relationship with someone, start thinking of them as your best friend in the world and I guarantee the relationship will heal. This is far easier said than done, but the spirit that you infuse into your actions matters! Change your attitude and your world will change.

Attitude is a little thing that makes a huge difference.
-Winston Churchill