Tips on How to Develop a Sound Mind for Success

The benefits of having a sound mind cannot be overemphasized.

When you have a sound mind, you can do what’s necessary.

– Evander Holyfield

Here are necessary tips to help you develop a mind for success;

Rather than procrastinate, act

“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”

– Napoleon Bonaparte

Procrastination is defined in some quarters as a “form of self-regulation failure characterized by the irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences”. Procrastinating over a long period of time, can make you demotivated and disillusioned with your work, which can lead to depression.

Make your talents, habits

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”

-Tim Notke

No doubt, most of us agree that talent does matter. However, talent without the corresponding hard work won’t guarantee success. As a young child in catechism I couldn’t understand why the talent would be collected from the servant given one talent.

The story goes thus;

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents,to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.  The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents.  In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.  But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.”

Note: he gave them according to their ability.

Now this is where It became clearer;

After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.  Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’  His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 

Interestingly, the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 

For it is said;

It is poverty that whispers to those who always make excuses.

– Donald E. Ogbuwa

Since habits are the small decisions you make and actions you perform every day, consciously working on your talents make them your habits. Making you better for it.

Let humility be your watchword

The good book says “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted”. Humility teaches wisdom and it is wisdom that will drive the needed progress. This is because humility helps us acknowledge our own defects; it helps us correct our exaggerated ambitions; makes us teachable. In addition, humility is one of the most powerful and crucial attributes of growth. Rick Thomas believes that “your attempt to grow in humility is a threat to “self” and initiates an internal conflict as “self” seeks ways to maintain power and control in your life. However, if you continue to cultivate humility it prevents “self” from gaining control over your heart.

Remember;

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.

–C. S. Lewis

Learn to be humble and remain humble about it.

The proud man can learn humility, but he will be proud of it.

–Mignon McLaughlin

Admire instead of envy

Admiration is a noble sentiment. When you admire others, you exude humility. Envy, by contrast, is thought to be inherently bad. It is a “feeling of mortification and ill-will occasioned by the contemplation of superior advantages possessed by another.” Admiration and envy are often seen as opposites. While admiration inspires us, opening doors of opportunities to learn and to develop even further, envy drags us down.  

“Envy is ignorance.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you are an envious person, it is time to break free. Transform your envy into admiration because deep down you want to be like the person you envy. Therefore, stop being envious, rather set reasonable goals and let the person be an inspiration.

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