Faith vs. Fear – What Side Are You Living In?

I’m a big fan and believer in the teaching of Napoleon Hill.  I just read a passage from one of his books I wanted to share.

For me, when I was reading and contemplating this message I realized just how much mental strength is required in this day and age to follow these words of wisdom.  Today we have so many distractions that we don’t allow ourselves to sit and contemplate ideas like the one below.

It takes mental strength to turn off the TV, the radio, the video games and think about what you’re going to do with the rest of your life….and by using great information, like the below writing, and just sit, ponder and journal…miraculous insights will begin to happen.

I’m here to help in developing the mental strength so that you CAN….

FAITH vs FEAR

by Dr. Napoleon Hill

“FEAR is faith in reverse gear. Fear is a negative belief in something, and belief is the very foundation of faith.

Faith is a positive mental attitude in action.

Your mental attitude is the sum total of your thoughts at any given time.

A positive mental attitude has its roots in the spiritual wells of one’s soul. And it is the medium by which adversities may be transmuted into benefits.

Your achievements are limited only by your mental attitude, for it is true that your only real limitations are those which you set up in your own mind.

Keep your mental attitude RIGHT and your future will always be BRIGHT. Success goes to the person whose mental attitude is such that he expects success. And health, wealth, happiness are products of a positive mental attitude.

Your mental attitude, whether it be positive or negative, weaves into your character every thread of your thoughts.

A positive mental attitude is the factor which makes prayer pay off. Keep your mental attitude positive and everything else will take care of itself in your favor.

People who work with a positive mental attitude are constantly doing the “impossible.”

The difference between mediocrity and genius is mainly a question of mental attitude. If you don’t like what life has given you, change your mental attitude and attract something else more to your liking! And remember that not all of the wisdom of the sages and the ages can help the person who quits trying to help himself.

Remember that the Creator has so made us that our strength grows out of our struggles, and we are no bigger than the circumstances which we permit to frighten or worry us.

Faith is a state of mind which has been called “the mainspring of the soul,” through which your aims, desires and plans may be translated into their physical equivalents.

Besides a positive mental attitude, free from negatives such as envy, hatred, jealousy and fear, applied faith has other fundamentals.

These include: A definiteness of purpose, supported by personal initiative or action . . . Recognition of the fact that every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent benefit; that temporary defeat is not failure until it has been accepted by you as such . . . The habit of expressing gratitude for one’s blessings daily, in the form of a prayer.

To create a mental attitude favorable for the expression of applied faith, follow these instructions:

1. Know what you want and determine what you will give in return for it.

2. When you affirm the object of your prayers, let your imagination see yourself already in possession of it.

3. Keep your mind open for guidance from within, and when you are inspired by “hunches”—take heed of them immediately, for they may bring you the answer you seek.

4. When you are overtaken by defeat, as you may be many times, remember that man’s faith is often tested in many ways, and defeat may be only your testing time; therefore, accept defeat only as an inspiration for greater effort.

There is no such reality as a “blanket” faith. You must have a definite objective, purpose, or desire before you can enjoy the benefits of applied faith. Faith is guidance from within which will not bring you that which you seek, but it will show you the path by which you may go after that which you desire.”

Source: Success Unlimited, May 1955, pp. 20-21.