While positive thinking and positive attitude are often paired with each other, neither automatically or necessarily lead to success. Failure can thrive when it is paired with either one; or, both.
The problem doesn't lie with the word "positive". The problem occurs when we deceive ourselves and believe that by focused thinking or having a positive attitude we can have whatever we desire. Positive thinking, "I know I can," and having a positive mental inclination toward a project or problem doesn't guarantee success.
While positive thinking and a positive attitude are more likely to be found in people who succeed, they take second and third place to the power of positive expectations. When we anticipate the occurrence of a positive outcome and expect positive things to happen, we will do all in our power to make them happen. Success is the result of a positive performance. Success is the results of doing the right things. Leonardo da Vinci left us with this great thought: "I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do it."
Longing for success is not the same thing as expecting success. It is our chief duty to execute the required actions steps and move toward our goal with each step until we achieve that goal.
I think that many people today live—if one can call it living— with fewer expectations than past generations. I constantly hear phrases like, "What is, is!" and, "Whatever will be, will be." lack of positive expectations can be summed up in the title to the hit song, Que Sera Sera
("What Ever Will, Be Will Be").
It wasn't long ago that parents held the idea that their children would be better off financially than they were. Optimism ruled. People envisioned a better day and even a better tomorrow.
Up to a few years ago people believed that even in economic turndowns the pendulum would swing; the rain would be replaced by the sunshine. Their positive attitude told them that when the circumstances where right, things would be better.
Circumstances are seldom right. You never have the capacities, the strength, the wisdom, the skills and talents you ought to have. You must always do with less than you need in a situation that is different from what you would have chosen for your special talents.
It is truly amazing the number of people that go to work each day with little or no expectation of succeeding. The reason people fail to achieve success is that they don't expect to be successful. For the unsuccessful, hopes, wishes and dreams have replaced expectation as the method to success. As someone has said, "Hope is not a method." To achieve and reach goals people must first expect success and second execute the action steps leading to success.
Having positive expectations means you have confidence in yourself and your fellow workers. You look forward to the challenges that face you. You are not presumptuous and you don't deal in probabilities. You execute with assurance and confidence expecting victory. Execution paired with expectations is the mental edge that results in victory.
Do you plan on carrying your dreams with you to the grave? Dreams that if turned into actionable ideas and executed would provide you with a better lifestyle, improve the status for family, friends, neighbors or even mankind. Why would anyone be so selfish that they would let their dream die for lack of expectation.
When we don't expect , we disrespect ourselves, our strengths, our abilities, and our purpose for being on planet earth. In essence we say, "I can't change things"," I have to go with the flow", "Whatever will be will be", "What is, is! If you subscribe to any of these false assumptions, let Amelia Earhart's advice challenge you: "Never interrupt someone doing what you said couldn't be done."
I offer one caution regarding the power of positive expectations. Don't expect overnight success or set unrealistic goals. To believe in the impossible (overnight success) only leads to frustration, stress and the inevitable failure. And failure, once achieved, can lead to additional failure as we confirm for ourselves, "we are failures." This is of itself flawed thinking, we may fail, but we are not a failure until we forgo our positive expectations and quit doing. Keep expecting success. Keep doing until you reach your goals.
You'll pardon me for cutting to the chase, but I believe the power of positive expectations is clear. When you have positive expectations you will engage in specific actions that transform your desires into reality.
My high school friends loved the song, Que Sera Sera. It won the 1956 Academy Award Song for Best Original Song. But don't adopt, Whatever Will Be, Will Be as your manta. Fate is not a synonym for positive expectation.
Three Point Success Summation
SUCCESS THOUGHT: Can you really say that you expect tomorrow to be better than today? When you go to bed tonight, do you sleep sound knowing that the morning will bring a fresh new day with exciting challenges and opportunities. Or, do you expect more of the same old stuff? Make the best use of positive thinking and have a positive attitude. More importantly, tap the power of positive expectations and you will perform in a manner consistent with your strengths, talents and desires.
SUCCESS QUOTE: "Good is not good, where better is expected." —Thomas Fuller
SUCCESS ACTION: Expect success and have a relentless bias toward action.
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