The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

than you have ever had. You see, John, self-control is really nothing
more than mind control. Will is the king of mental powers. When
you master your mind you master your life. Mental mastery starts
with being able to control every thought that you think. When you
have developed the ability to discard all weak thoughts and focus
only on those that are positive and good, positive and good actions
will follow. Soon you will start attracting all that is positive and
good into your life."
"Here's an example. Let's say one of your personal
development goals is to get up every morning at 6:00 a.m. and go
for a run around that park behind your place. Let's pretend it is
now the middle of the winter, and your alarm wakes you from a
deep, restful sleep. Your first impulse is to hit the snooze button
and return to your slumber. Perhaps you will live up to your
exercise resolution tomorrow. This pattern continues for a few
days until you decide that you are too old to change your ways and
the physical fitness goal was too unrealistic."
"You know me too well," I offered sincerely.
"Now let's consider an alternative scenario. It is still the dead
of winter. The alarm goes off and you start to think of staying in
bed. But instead of being a slave to your habits, you challenge
them with more powerful thoughts. You start to picture in your
mind's eye how you will look, feel and act when you are in peak
physical shape. You hear the many compliments your colleagues at
the office offer you as you saunter past them with a svelte, trim
physique. You focus on all that you can accomplish with the
increased energy a regular exercise program will bring. No more
nights spent in front of the television because you are too tired to
do anything else after your long day in court. Your days are filled
with vitality, enthusiasm and meaning."