Your Brain Bank

How often had I NOT sought an opportunity because (by my
standards) that wasn't who I was? How much had I missed out
on because of my rigid view of myself?

David J. Schwartz, in his book, "The Magic Of Thinking Big"
provides a beautiful illustration of what we do to ourselves.
He explains that a lack of confidence can be traced directly
to our mis-managed memory.

Imagine that your brain is like a bank. Every day you make
thought deposits in your "mind bank". These thought deposits
grow and become your memory. When you settle down to think
or when you face a problem, in effect you say to your memory
bank, "What do I already know about this?"

Your memory bank automatically answers and supplies you with
information relating to this situation that you deposited on
previous occasions. Your memory is the supplier of material
for your new thought.

The teller in your memory bank is tremendously reliable.
He never crosses you up. If you approach him and say,
"Mr. Teller, let me draw some thoughts I deposited in the
past proving I'm inferior to just about everybody else,"
he'll say, "Certainly".

Recall how you failed two times previously when you tried
this? Recall what your 6th grade teacher told you about your
inability to accomplish things. Recall what you overheard
some fellow workers saying about you and on and on Mr. Teller
goes, digging out of your brain thought after thought that
proves you inadequate.

But suppose you visit your memory teller with this request,
"Mr. Teller, I face a difficult decision. Can you supply me
with any thoughts that will give me reassurance?"

And again, Mr. Teller says, "Certainly," but this time he
delivers thoughts you deposited earlier that say you can
succeed. "Recall the excellent job you did on a similar
situations before. Recall how much confidence Ms. Smith placed
in you. Recall what your good friends said about
you. Recall."

Mr. Teller, perfectly responsive, lets you withdraw the
thought deposits you want to withdraw. After all, it is
YOUR bank.

Shifting our thoughts from who we think we are to who we truly
could be provokes limitless possibilities. Envision the deep
growth and change that could transpire with your new view of
your self.

What if you allowed your mind to serve you rather then rule you?

Change who you think you are - and change your life