The Strangest Secret: We-become-what-we-think-about

Overview

"The Strangest Secret" by Earl Nightingale is a landmark audio recording and personal development guide. Released in 1957, it was the first spoken-word recording to achieve Gold Record status. The key message is simple yet profound: "We become what we think about."

Key Concepts

We Become What We Think About:

• Nightingale emphasizes that our lives are shaped by our thoughts. What we consistently think about and focus on will manifest in our reality.
• He compares the mind to fertile soil, which can grow either a productive crop or useless invasive plants, depending on what seeds (thoughts) are planted.

Success and Failure Defined:

• Success is defined as the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. Anyone working toward a predetermined goal is successful, while failure is someone without a goal.
• The secret is to have a clear and specific goal and to focus your thoughts and actions on achieving it.

Attitude Determines Outcomes:

• Positive and constructive thoughts lead to positive results, while negative and destructive thoughts lead to negative results.
• Nightingale suggests that attitude is the most important factor in determining our future success or failure.

Practical Steps

1. 30-Day Challenge:

   • Commit to focusing on your goal for 30 days without allowing doubts or fears to distract you.
   • Write your goal on a card and read it several times a day to keep it at the forefront of your mind.

2. Act as if It Were Impossible to Fail:

   • Approach each day with confidence and determination, as though success is inevitable.
   • Take deliberate and consistent actions toward your goal.

3. Understand the Power of Belief:

   • Believe in your ability to achieve your goal. Nightingale emphasizes the importance of belief and self-confidence.

Key Quotes

• "You become what you think about."
• "Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal."
• "Your world is a living expression of how you are using and have used your mind."