Napoleon Hill on Poverty and Economic Depression

Today I was preparing some new mastermind material for my upcoming webinars on Napoleon Hill’s “Think & Grow Rich’ and I came across some great information that relates to today’s “global economic crisis”.

In the Epilogue, Hill states: “The people of America began to think of poverty following the Wall Street Crash of 1929.  Slowly but surely, that mass thought was crystallized into its physical equivalent, which was known as a depression.  This had to happen.  It is in conformity with the laws of Nature.”

Now let’s take a moment and reflect on what we are being bombarded by the media…”We ate squirrels to survive.”, “71,000 jobs lost in one day”, and the famous “War or Terror”.

Now we have the majority of people that aren’t thinking but are allowing the media to focus their thoughts on all of the negativity that is going on which fuels the fire even more until we create the thing which we feared the most. But don’t worry if you are thinking you will never have to worry no matter what the situation is.

Here is another passage from the Epilogue:

“If you want riches, you must refuse to accept any circumstance that leads toward poverty. (The word “riches” is here used in its broadest sense, meaning financial, spiritual, mental and material estates).”

Here he reinforces my past statement that if you are conscious (in the present moment) and are actually thinking (meaning you can choose to accept, reject or neglect any idea that is thrown your way) then you control your inner emotional state and your physical well-being and you actions. If your actions are only successful and healthy ones then there is nothing else that you can create for yourself except abundance and well-being!

Remember Thoughts manifest themselves as Feelings which dictate the health of your body and the actions you take. Actions produce RESULTS. Work with what you are thinking before trying to change your external world/actions.

Lastly, I wanted to share some more of the Epilogue where Hill discusses The Fear of Poverty and its symptoms. Review the list below and see if you are experiencing any of these.

INDIFFERENCE: Commonly expressed through lack of ambition; willingness to tolerate poverty; acceptance of whatever compensation life may offer without protest; mental and physical laziness; lack of initiative, imagination, enthusiasm and self-control.

INDECISION: The habit of permitting others to do one’s thinking. (i.e. Media and friends) Staying on the fence.

DOUBT: Generally expressed through alibis and excuses designed to cover up, explain away, or apologize for one’s failures, sometimes expressed in the form of envy of those who are successful or criticism of others.

WORRY: Usually expressed by finding fault with others, a tendency to spend beyond one’s income, neglect of personal appearance, scowling and frowning; intemperance in the use of alcohol, sometimes through the use of narcotics; nervousness, lack of poise, self-consciousness and lack of self-reliance.

OVER-CAUTION: The habit of looking for the negative side of every circumstance, thinking and talking of possible failure instead of concentrating upon the means of succeeding. Knowing all the roads to disaster, but never searching for the plans to avoid failure. Waiting for the “right time” to begin putting ideas and plans into action, until the waiting becomes a permanent habit. Remembering those who have failed, and forgetting those who have succeeded. Seeing the hole in the doughnut, but overlooking the doughnut. Pessimism, leading to indigestion, poor elimination, autointoxication, bad breath and bad disposition.

PROCRASTINATION: The habit of putting off until tomorrow that which should have been done last year. Spending enough time in creating alibis and excuses to have done the job. This symptom is closely related to over-caution, doubt and worry. Refusal to accept responsibility when it can be avoided. Willingness to compromise rather than put up a stiff fight. Compromising with difficulties instead of harnessing and using them as steppingstones to advancement. Bargaining with life for a penny, instead of demanding prosperity, opulence, riches contentment, and happiness. Planning what to do IF AND WHEN OVERTAKEN BY FAILURE, INSTEAD OF BURNING ALL BRIDGES AND MAKING RETREAT IMPOSSIBLE. Weakness of, and often total lack of, self-confidence, definiteness of purpose, self-control, initiative, enthusiasm, ambition, thrift, and sound reasoning ability. (As Bob Proctor says “Once fear enters, logic leaves the room.”) EXPECTING POVERTY INSTEAD OF DEMANDING RICHES. Association with those who accept poverty instead of seeking the company of those who demand and receives riches.

If you are not where you want to be in any aspect of your life take a close look at the list above and review it to see which patterns you are using. Remember the first step to change is awareness.

To your success!

Marc Hurtubise

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