Finding Opportunities in Any Economy: Your own beliefs and behaviors are great predictors of your success, says author Jack Canfield

Your own beliefs and behaviors are greater predictors of your success than any fluctuation in the marketplace. Even when the newspapers splash the word “recession” across the front page, you can write your own success story.

Start by becoming an “inverse paranoid”.

Believe that every event in your life is the seed for your greater good; something meant to enrich you, empower you or advance your cause. Imagine how much easier it would be to succeed in life if you were constantly expecting the world to support you and bring you opportunity. You can easily verify this belief for yourself. Just think about the last time that a terrible event turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

What opportunity exists here?

Take the fast track to inspiration by constantly asking yourself: What’s the opportunity here? Make this a habit, and you’ll stay calm and centered during any event that seems like a setback. The beauty of this question is that it triggers your mind to respond with positive suggestions.

Compare these to the useless information you get by asking yourself the questions such as: Why did this happen to me? or Who’s to blame for this mess? If you get passed over for a promotion or your retirement account takes a hit in the stock market, remember to ask: What’s the opportunity here? or one of its inspiring variations: What can I learn from this event? What will I do differently from now on? Who can I turn to as a mentor or coach? What’s my next action?

Remember the three things you control.

In a way, the economy is just a vague and sometimes ambiguous idea. It refers in a general way to trillions of dollars of goods, services and products by billions of people across the planet. When you face a financial challenge, is it the vast, impersonal economy at work? Or is it your personal economy, which you can directly control?

You can’t always count on the economy, but you can always rely on yourself. Remember, you have absolute control over three things in your life:

1. The thoughts you think
2. The images you visualize
3. The actions you take (including what you say to others)

Your life experience is simply the sum total of the choices you make in these three areas. And you can attract new results at any time by making new choices. Use these ideas and exercises to do just that.

Canfield will appear in Phoenix on June 2, presenting a life-transforming, one-day seminar, Applying Success Principles for Healers, Therapists & Coaches. To learn more, call 619-861-2237 or visit EnergyPsych.org/canfield.

Canfield is founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book brand and a leading authority on peak performance and life success. For free success tips, visit FreeSuccessStrategies.com.