Do we become what we think about or is there a more accurate axiom?
It’s been said that we become what we think about. While that’s probably true as a generality, I think it is more accurate to say we become what we expand psychic (mental) energy thinking about.
If you spend considerable psychic energy thinking about your job, your company, its markets and operations, etc., you will probably be more successful than the guy who focuses on other things as a priority.
You have a limited amount of psychic energy. If you expend your psychic energy on being a stellar husband, father, son/daughter, brother, sister, Christian, etc. – you will no doubt succeed in some or all of these areas. But it’s doubtful you will succeed in your chosen profession if it’s only a job to support your other psychic energy priorities.
Of course, liberal thinkers may say that overemphasis on one’s job and career is misplaced psychic energy. Frankly, they could be right. But those of us from immigrant families . . . who were raised during and after World War II – during the work-ethic period – when inventors and entrepreneurs and business professionals were held in high regard . . . tend to see things as I explained above.
Of course, one can go overboard in any of these areas and succeed in that over extended area. Proper balance must always be achieved to have a happy and fulfilling life. But success in the worldly, contemporary sense will normally be in direct proportion to the amount of psychic energy one puts forth in his/her career.
What you think about all day long is probably a good measure of where your psychic energy is being expended. Make sure that it is consistent with your goals and objectives in the various aspects of your life. And, make sure you are realistic and not overly idealistic.
Many people feel that happiness is their goal – and I suppose rightly so. But I have always felt that happiness is more of a reward rather than an objective. I know many would disagree with this view. They focus on what’s fun, pleasurable, feels good right now, et cetera. Short-term pleasures, however, may not lead to a rich and fulfilling life in which you’ve succeeded and left this world a better place.
