Zig Ziglar used to tell lots of stories about positive attitude. And make no mistake attitude matters.
For example, You’ll remember more if you’re interested in the material. If you sit there and say “Aw shucks, this is so dumb. I can’t believe I have to learn this. I ‘ll never use it.” Then your brain will shut down and follow the directions you’re giving it.
A great story that stuck with me from Zig was the one he would tell about two men stranded on a desert island. It goes something kind of like this.
Choose which scenario you’d rather be part of.
#1
One man is having horrible pain. His right abdomen is tender, and he can’t move at all without excruciating pain. To touch him or even to look at him sends him through the roof.
(You should know the dx by now)
The second man says to him, “ I think you have appendicitis. I don’t really know anything, but we have a medical kit here, and as you get sicker it may be worth me trying to take it out. I know it will be awful, but I might be able to save your life.
#2
One man is having horrible pain. His right abdomen is tender, and he can’t move at all without excruciating pain. To touch him or even to look at him sends him through the roof.
The second man looks at him and says “YOU’RE GONNA DIE.”
No one is saying a positive attitude will move mountains on its own. But what I’ve seen is the compound effect; small consistent things add up. My youngest son hustles and listens. Coaches easily connect with him and who him more and more. My oldest son appears disinterested when someone tries to coach him. Eventually, they give up and move on.
Not exercising today isn’t going to kill you. Smoking a cigarette today isn’t going to kill you. Forcing yourself to smile the morning of your test isn’t going to help you.
It’s the long-term patterns that matter. The habits that build over time that matter.
One of my favorite quotes is from Aristotle.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
It’s the repetition that makes it work. If you sit down today and say, I’m going to learn this stuff. I’m going to do well on my exam. I’m going to pass my exam. It won’t magically work. What will happen is that your brain will start to tune in. It will begin to pay attention to what you’re studying. You’ll retain more, and you will, therefore, do better on your exam.
It isn’t magic crystals and horoscopes. Its simple patterns of behavior repeated over and over that change you and the world around you. Evolution comes to mind. It isn’t one mutation. It’s thousands of them over thousands of years. It’s a good attitude for the entire time your prepping. It’s working hard and being proud of yourself simply for the hard work you’ve put in.
It’s getting out of your own way so that you can shine.
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