“Everyone brings over with him, at birth, the equivalent of two sealed envelopes.
One of which is labeled “the riches you may enjoy if you take possession of your own mind and direct it to ends of your own choice”.
And the other is labeled “the penalties you must pay if you neglect to take possession of your own mind and direct it”.”
Do you know what is is each envelope? Any guesses?
Before we go further, ask yourself whether you have control over your circumstances.
I asked this a few weeks ago and most people responded that they believed they had some control over their lives, but that things came along that were outside their control.
Yes, things can happen outside of our conscious control, things that we would absolutely never wish for. But, when these things happen do you believe they happen TO you or do you believe there is a lesson to be learned in them? Do they happen FOR you? Something that needs to crack you open so harshly that you would never learn the lesson had the horrible experience never occurred?
Think about it. As a chick grows inside the egg shell, it gets bigger and bigger, consuming the available nutrients, and expelling waste until it is cramped and filthy in its hard cage. Of course the chick would probably prefer that someone comes along and cracks the egg open to release it from those horrible living conditions, but if the chick does not go through the hardship of breaking free from its own shell, the chick will die. It needs to go through that experience to be strong enough to survive outside the shell.
We are very much the same. If we do not go through the hardships and traumas of life, we cannot survive. We would become like snowflakes that melt and disappear as soon as conditions become uncomfortable.
So, while you may not have complete control over external conditions, it is possible for you to have complete control over your mind, how you respond to those conditions, and how much they affect what you believe to be your destiny.
If you do not truly believe that you have complete control of your mind and your destiny, open the “penalties” envelope. It contains:
– Ill health
– Fear and Worry
– Indecision and Doubt
– Frustration and Discouragement throughout life
– Poverty and Want
– a whole flock of Evil Emotions, jealousy, greed, hatred, anger, and superstition
Not very encouraging, is it?
But, if you believe that you have complete control over your mind, and therefore your destiny, you can open the “riches” envelope. It contains:
– Sound Health
– Peace of Mind
– a Labor of Love of your own choice
– Freedom from fear and worry
– a Positive Mental Attitude
– Material Riches of your own choice and quantity
What is your immediate response? Write down your first thoughts, emotions, or bodily reactions.
You may notice thoughts like “well, she is just trying to prove a point” or “that only works in theory” or ” that is too simplistic”.
You may notice you feel uncomfortable, angry, excited, or something else, perhaps something you cannot quite put your finger on.
You may notice a tightness in your chest, butterflies in your stomach, tension in your head, or have a gut reaction.
These are your beliefs, perhaps conscious, but more likely unconscious. They tend to be fleeting because we quickly start to think of how we think we “should” react and we often want to minimize uncomfortable feelings or thoughts.
Now before we go further, I want to share something with you:
These are not my words.
Well, not all of them.
The basis of this post is from Napoleon Hill.
The lesson of the two envelopes was taught to Napoleon Hill by Andrew Carnegie over a century ago. Yet, it is just as relevant today as it was back then. There is a reason why “Think and Grow Rich” has stood the test of time.
If you are not where you want to be when it comes to wealth, health, spirituality, career, relationships, this may be your weak link. Think about it objectively and decide for yourself if this may be the missing key to unlocking all the abundance and treasures missing in your life. It will not eliminate the trials and tribulations, but it will definitely change the way you look at them.
If you like to have conversations like this- conversations that have the potential to change your life- contact me regarding the Money Mom Academy. Part of the Academy includes weekly live group zoom calls where you can ask questions and we can take deep dives into all things money, finances, investing, and money mindset.