Words like failure, mistake, heartache, screw-up,
loss, divorce, bankruptcy and so on cut right into the
marrow of peoples’ bones.
All of us have at least one or two really BIG setbacks,
perhaps even one or more that are still being carried
around.
Let me assure you, carrying previous mistakes around
with you is not the way to live. You probably already know
that – but do you really KNOW it. By that I mean, do you
LIVE it.
Many years ago, when I was a competitive wrestler in
high school and college, whenever I lost, I was crushed.
I would carry the experience with me for days. On some
occasions, a really big loss was something that hurt for
years. The mere mention of the incident would cause me
to shake and shiver.
Naturally I carried this same sort of ‘I shouldn’t make
mistakes or lose at any time’ attitude with me into
business. And let me tell you, I was even harder on myself
in this situation than I was in sports.
I remember one time when I was in the personal training
business full time, I took on an employee who ultimately
ripped me off when I was out of town, opened his own
location and went into competition with me … after I had
trained him, helped him build his confidence, showed him
a system and so on.
I was devastated. And I carried the anger I felt toward
this person with me for years.
In some ways you could say I used the anger to leap frog
the guy, afterall, ‘Success is the greatest revenge.’
But even when I had reached a level of success that was
light years ahead of the guy, I was still angry. And that
anger was definitely not contributing to my growth in
any way.
Dr. Maltz always says, ‘You may be a mistake-maker, but
you’re also a mistake breaker.’ He also says that you need
to forgive yourself for past mistakes. And you need to forgive
others.
Forgiving others does not mean that you let them into the door
of your home after they’ve robbed you and beaten you. Not at
all. It simply means you let go of the negative in your mind, see
the event for what it was and move on. Don’t let the negative vibes
of the situation continue to drain YOU of energy.
Had a client back in the old days who was familiar with the situation
of me getting ripped off. He said to me one day, ‘You’ve got to let
that go, otherwise his (the guy who wronged me) ghost is hovering
over you, laughing at you.’
How true.
Now, you can argue that the times I was angry with myself for losing
an important wrestling match served me well, afterall, one coach told
me, ‘Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.’
In a sense, it is natural to be upset with yourself after a loss – but the
key to your success is the speed at which you transform the anger or
hurt into a learning experience. When I was harboring a ton of anger
about losing, my workouts weren’t as good. I couldn’t focus because
my mind wasn’t relaxed. And I didn’t stop making mistakes simply
because I was angry about a previous one.
You may be a mistake maker, but you’re also a mistake breaker.
In business today, when I make a mistake, I get over it incredibly fast.
I adjust so fast it is scary sometimes – and as a result I am MUCH MORE
effective at moving forward than when I would harbor anger and resentment
for days, weeks – or years.
Every day is a new day, an opportunity for growth. Instead of focusing on
past mistakes, heartaches and failures – focus your mind on the good times,
the times in which everything flowed smoothly. See yourself at your best.
See yourself with kind eyes.
Be the BIG SELF that resides within you. Overcome your obstacles. Rise
above them. View them as challenges rather than problems.
And when something doesn’t work out the way you thought it would, remember
that you can change. You are a mistake maker. All of us are. But, if you choose,
you can also be a mistake breaker.
Need some help creating a lasting image of your BIG SELF. Then be sure to get
the Zero Resistance Living couse. It’s loaded with exercises and drills that will
give you the power to live at your best, to live with zero resistance. To get the
program go to http://www.psycho-cybernetics.com/zrlcourse.html
Best,
P.S. We’re almost ready to declare my Ocotober seminar on the Science of
Super-Human Marketing a sell out. Time IS running out. If you want to go
to the next level – if you want to transcend all the mistakes or lost opportunities
of your past – then you owe it to yourself to go to http://www.knockoutmarketing.com