Hello Ladies!!
Our Open discussion Starts Today!! Feel free to share your thoughts, a favorite lesson or ask a question from the book. We would love to hear everyone's thoughts!! I couldn't help from grinning when I read something in just the first few pages of the book. It was suggested, in order to get the most out of our reading, we should form a "Study Club" to meet once a week to freely discuss the contents of each chapter. Isn't this EXACTLY what we are doing?!?! WE were one step ahead, ladies!! A step in the right MindSet, ready to acquire this "Knowledge of Priceless Value."
Let's start "studying, digesting and meditating" everything about this book!!
Look forward to hearing from you!!
"Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." - Napoleon Hill
So, I did Exactly what the book suggested...to underline (well highlight...we do have those nowadays. LOL) the sentences which impress me most.
Here they are, along with my thoughts.
"Thoughts are things, and powerful things at that, when they are mixed with the definiteness of purpose, persistence, and a burning desire for their translation into riches, or other material objects."
I enjoyed reading the stories about the Men who achieved their Successes from having the burning desire to achieve their goals, not allowing defeat to consume them and of course, we can't forget about the little girl who "whipped" Mr Darby's uncle!! You go girl!! LOL
Lessons I digested in this chapter starts with the three things necessary to convert thoughts into riches or other material objects.
1. BURNING DESIRE
2. DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE
3. PERSISTANCE - "DETERMINATION TO STAND BY THAT DESIRE UNTIL IT'S REALIZED."
LESSON 2
"Success come to those who are SUCCESS CONSCIOUS."
LESSON 3
"The Universe will provide what we hold in our MINDS."
LESSON 4
"If we hold thoughts of wealth in our mind, the Universe will bring us WEALTH."
I picked two statements that I have reflect on:
A real student will not merely read this book, he will absorb its contents and make them his own.
I know there are times that we all just read a self-help or inspriational book and leave it just at that; read. We can say "that makes sense" or " wow, that's interesting" but not apply them to our lives. Why do we pick up these books and read them for? Because we know the path we are on is not working right and we try to find another way but then we do not absorb or apply what we learned. I am no exception. I will read and try to apply but see no results and give up. Giving up is the worst thing to do! I know that now and I do not just read a book anymore. I reread it until I know what I need to do and how to do it perfectly. I read until all the information is absorbed into my head and I think about it on a daily basis and apply what I learned. That is just what I am going to do with Think and Grow Rich!
Money and material things are essential for freedom of body and mind, but there are some who will feel that the greatest of all riches can be evaluated only in terms of lasting friendships, harmonious family relationships, sympathy and understanding between business associates and introspective harmony which brings one peace of mind measruable only in spritual values.
I could not agree more! What is money with out friendships or wonderful family relationships? Not much!
It seems to me that Think and Grow Rich is really "The Secret" in early form. I love that there are so many shining examples of what thinking does in our lives: if we think bad things will happen, we tend to manifest them; moreover, if we think positively and expect good things to come, they do.
I am using this book as an example for my 16 yr old daughter to learn to think positively and express herself with her thoughts in a constructive way. It is amazing to share these examples with her and see the difference in her mindset.
I, too, used to read self-help books, hi-light important or meaningful parts, practice the ideas for a while, then "fall off the wagon " and go right back to my old way of thinking. Napoleon Hill is such an easy read, and I think to myself, if he acquired this knowledge so very long ago and that many people became successful utilizing this knowledge, who am I to NOT jump in?
As for me, I am setting my desire in progress and my new motto: Failure IS NOT AN OPTION!!!
Looking forward to Chapter 2!!
The 2 of you brought up very good points!! I intstantly thought about one of my all-time favorite quotes:
"Knowledge without follow-through
is worse than no knowledge."
-Henry Charles Bukowski
Yes, many of us read self-help books and articles, yet never follow through. Or, we follow through but get easily discouraged when we do not see results quickly. This is why I loved reading the stories Mr. Hill shared about the two men. They were both truly great examples of WHY we should never give up. "Failure is NOT an option!!"
Thanks so much for sharing!!
I agree with all replies here! I loved this idea also:
This book should be adopted by all High Schools and no boy or girl should be permitted to graduate without satisfactorily passing an exam. on it.
If only this could have been put into action! How great would that be?!
MommyWisdom, I was also sooo excited when I read the part about having a study group. I chuckled to myself and thought "Thank You for this group and all the wonderful women here!" I am so grateful that my life is starting to get "on track"!! Can't wait to read Ch. 2.
One thing I'm going to struggle with though, is having a burning desire. I don't know what to have a burning desire about! I don't want to just desire to be monetarily wealthy (as it was stated b4, this is often meaningless) I still don't know what I want to be "when I grow up". LOL Hopefully the answer's will come to me as I get further into the book. As he stated, some will "get it" in the first chap. and some not until the last. I do "get it" I just don't want to be all over the place with my thoughts! I'm going to read Ch. 1 over again and again until we move on!
Quoting gr8flM0M:
I agree with all replies here! I loved this idea also:
This book should be adopted by all High Schools and no boy or girl should be permitted to graduate without satisfactorily passing an exam. on it.
If only this could have been put into action! How great would that be?!
MommyWisdom, I was also sooo excited when I read the part about having a study group. I chuckled to myself and thought "Thank You for this group and all the wonderful women here!" I am so grateful that my life is starting to get "on track"!! Can't wait to read Ch. 2.
One thing I'm going to struggle with though, is having a burning desire. I don't know what to have a burning desire about! I don't want to just desire to be monetarily wealthy (as it was stated b4, this is often meaningless) I still don't know what I want to be "when I grow up". LOL Hopefully the answer's will come to me as I get further into the book. As he stated, some will "get it" in the first chap. and some not until the last. I do "get it" I just don't want to be all over the place with my thoughts! I'm going to read Ch. 1 over again and again until we move on!
I found for myself a while ago what got in my way of defining what my passion was. I held a lot of subconscious false beliefs...false beliefs about me, other people, and my capabilitites. They were with me for so long that I believed they were Truth. Anything that I embarked on that was built on the foundation of those false beliefs, inevitably fell through. I can't build anything solid on a lie.
Once I explored the flase beliefs and brought them up from the subconscious, I was able to extract them and reinsert the Divine Truth into myself. Then, I was able to identify what I wanted to do. For me, the blockage had a lot to do with not knowing the Truth of Myself....not fully knowing me.
I always pictured it like Moses in front of the burning bush of inspiration. I can say, "Oh, I'd never be good at that." or, "That job is for someone else to do." "there's so many others who could do better than I." Or how about, "My whole life has been like this and no one listened/saw/felt me before." (In the Biblical account, Moses talks about not wanting to face his past.)
But then the Maker says,"Who made you to be who you are?! I'll bring the resources and people you need! Now pick up the talent in your hand--your staff. Go create abundance for you and your people! Just go and do!"
all those fears and false beliefs that could have gotten in the way of the fire of divine inspiration! And that get in the way for so many still today...myself included.
(I think I rambled off topic but wanted to respond to you, Gr8fulMOM)
I am hoping this book helps give me the motivation I need to face my fears of failure. I am so terrified of failing new things I rarely try new things. I also agree if this book continues to be uplifting and motivational it would be a great addition to any high school. Everyone need to see and believe that if you put your mind to it you can acheive it, at any age!!!!
This book is one of my fav's ... I read it every year, at least once and I frequently find myself coming back to it as I'm reading other books. Success principles are so timeless ... so useable by everyone. The page after the first chapter quotes "Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve." How true! Thoughts are things ... what do you think about everyday. Do you think about how your neighbor didn't return your phone call or how your husband neglected to pick up his dishes, or how the kids are so "bad" ... or do you push those thoughts aside and think positive. Thoughts are things and whatever you think about comes to pass ... it may not be today, this minute, but it will eventually happen.
As for definiteness of purpuse ... I like to think of my life in seven different areas: Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, Physical, Financial, Career and Family ... What is your purpose in each one of these areas. What do I think about in each one of these areas ... I personally set goals in each of these areas and speak about them everyday. And I do it PERSISTENTLY and CONSISTENTLY ... getting off track is easy ... don't be tempted by the trials of life. On page 5, Hill writes "Before success comes in any man's life, he is sure to meet with much temporary defeat, and, perhaps, some failure. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. That is exactly what the majority of men(or in our case, women) do." You will come up across obstacles in your path. What you do with those obstacles will determine your success.
Rambling, I know ... but this is a powerful book.
I also agree with the High School comment ... Our kids are taught about history and democracy, but they are not taught about how to achieve personal and financial freedoms. Most kids are not taught how to handle opposition ... this book and a full year or two of Success Principles or Character Education would be of tremendous benefit to this country and our futures.
Thanks for reviewing one of my favorite books.
Stacy Stearns
I have heard so many good things about this book from everyone I know who has read it.
It has altered their life in some, way, shape or form for the better.
Just by reading the intro and preface it got me heavily anticipating the rest of the book.
I am truly excited about this read.
-Audrey Hepburn
Desire...he talks about desire and becoming obsessed with what you desire, in his example: Money.
And this is where I'm stumped. I have spiralled around this for a number of years. I don't care about money. (It apparently doesn't care about me either. lol) I don't fear it. I don't fear lack either. I don't think it makes people evil.
I just don't care about it. It's not important. In fact, society makes it too important. Granted, I want enough to survive and provide for my family. At the same time, I believe wholeheartedly that people in general can function better on less. (Society has this false belief that more is better. It's not.)
Herein, lies my quandry. While I want to have enough to provide for my family and secure the things we need, I also believe in living a simple non-complicated lifestyle with less "things." I think the two are cancelling each other out. And I wind up with what I have now.
So how do I bring myself to "obsess" over something I feel is so unimportant? How the heck do I make it important to me? And what is a good reason to? I can't stand materialism. sigh...
I know I'm missing something important...a piece of this puzzle...that will balance things for me, put it all into perspective...I just don't know what that piece is.
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on Aug. 11, 2008 at 11:32 AM