Last week we discussed the last three fears in The Six Ghosts of Fear Part III, this week we complete our review of Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich with Hill’s guidance on the effect of negative influences.
We are all susceptible to negative influences. However, the successful protect themselves against this evil with the power of their own mind, support from other like minded persons and keeping themselves busy working on their purpose with a definite plan. The poverty stricken do not protect themselves. Some do not prepare out of ignorance, others simply never take action or quit too soon, and yet others become so overwhelmed by their negative thoughts and their own excuses that they expect little out of life.
These negative influences strike when you are not aware of its presence, when you are asleep and while you are awake, you do not see it coming, because it is intangible, it is a state of mind.
It strikes in as many different forms as there are human experiences and can burrow into your mind and have a lasting effect. Sometimes it enters the mind as a well meant word from one’s own relatives:
“That’s risky, are you sure you want to do that.”
Other times it bores from within, through one’s own mental attitude:
“Am I good enough.”
The most common weakness is leaving your mind open to the negative influences of others.
You, and every other human being, are, by nature, lazy, indifferent and susceptible to all suggestions that blend with your weaknesses.
Negative influences often work on you through your subconscious mind and are therefore difficult to detect.
It is as deadly as poison, even though it may not kill as quickly, you have to protect yourself against these negative influences.
How do you do that? How do you protect against these negative influences?
It’s internal. You have willpower, you have to put it to use on a regular basis until you build a wall of immunity against negative influences in your own mind.
- Do not expect troubles or they will show up
- Avoid people who depress or discourage you.
- Actively seek the company of people who influence you to think and act for yourself
- Build yourself up with personal development and positive affirmations
To make any improvements and get better, you have to know where you are starting.
Napoleon Hill offers more than 60 questions to analyze yourself and help you see yourself as you are now. Here are a few of those questions:
Do you complain often of feeling bad? If so, what is the cause?
Do you find fault with other people at the slightest provocation?
Does life seem futile and the future hopeless to you? If so, why?
Do you often feel self-pity? If so, why?
To which do you devote the most time: thinking of success or failure?
Do you learn something of value from all of your mistakes?
Do you resort to intoxicants like medication, narcotics, alcohol or cigarettes to “quiet your nerves”? If so, why? Why not try willpower instead?
Do you have a definite major purpose? If so, what is it and what is your plan for achieving it?
Do you make deliberate use of autosuggestion to make your mind positive?
Does your presence have a negative or positive influence on people?
How much time out of every 24 hours do you devote to:
Your occupation
Sleep
Play and relaxation
Acquiring useful knowledge
Plain waste
Consider your answers to these questions and determine, what changes should you make to get better?
Additionally, consider the Law of Attraction, and that “birds of a feather flock together”, what can you learn about yourself by studying the friends you attract?
Stay tuned next week as we review the last portion of Napoleon Hill’s guidance on the effect of negative influences.
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