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Your Thoughts Become Your Destiny
Little voice management requires less physical action and more quiet contemplation
April 18, 2019
We all face tough choices in our lives. Rich or poor, woman or man, boss or employee, facing difficult situations won’t go away simply because we’re afraid.
One of the key factors that differentiates the people I work with at big firms and small start ups alike is how the leaders handle fear.
It’s easy to stand still and not do anything. It’s easy to let our little voice remind us of a previous failure on the playground or in the classroom.
The Second Key to Greatness
As I discussed in my previous post, people who manage to rise above when others wilt can be traced back to the amount of time they spend being introspective. They aren’t afraid to question their own motivations when confronted with a difficult choice.
Was it the right thing to do? Why did I make the easy choice and not the tough one? What would I do differently the next time I’m in that situation?
So, while the first key to greatness is introspection, the second key to greatness is taking action when you’re confronted with doubt.
In other words, when you’re feeling fearful… take action anyway!
As I’ve mentioned throughout my posts here on RichDad.com, your little voice can help or hinder you. Like a CD that just keeps spinning, your little voice can completely stop any your personal growth you may be gaining if you choose to listen to it.
But, it can also stop you from making poor decisions. It’s only by following the first key to greatness — introspection — that you’ll know the difference.
It’s easy to throw your hands up in the air and chose to believe you don’t have any control.
Often times employees fall into this trap. They feel completely at the mercy of their boss. You feel like you never grew up from the watchful eyes of your parents. You merely live a life of doing what you’re told.
Leaders, even as employees, gain power from the quiet moments of introspection. They question themselves, their little voice, evaluate, act, then adjust, correct, and then act again. They breakout of autopilot and take control.
But it begins with their thoughts.
Your Thoughts Become Your Destiny
I’m sure you’ve heard the following from one of the world’s greatest philosophers, Loa Tzu.
Watch your thoughts; they become your words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become your character.
Watch your character; they become your destiny.
Your destiny, who you ultimately become, begins with the thoughts that you choose to verbalize with words.
The key to everything you’re destined to become all starts with the little voice you listen to.
As you spend introspective time sorting through your thoughts, it’s critical to assess your role in them. Did you bring it upon yourself? Could you have avoided the situation all together? What did you learn, if anything?
Mastering both keys of greatness, spending time being introspective and facing your fears head-on, are necessary to “little voice management.”
Much like how meditation is taught to new practitioners, you can’t completely block-out your thoughts. When they cross your consciousness, all you can do is acknowledge them and let them be on their way.
That’s the true key to the “little voice management” we’ve been talking about. You can’t change your past, all you can do is learn from it and let those lessons guide your future decisions.
Do you need to learn more about managing your little voice, grab a copy of my book,
Little Voice Mastery.
Original publish date:
April 18, 2019