Habit of Thinking Big!

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Introduction

The one major factor that separates the most successful people from the rest begins with a single ‘thought‘.

Over years this single ‘thought‘ is analyzed, criticized and condemned by others. People believe that this ‘thought‘ is impossible, improbably and undeniably unimaginable. They say that the ‘thought‘ is unorthodox and bordering on crazy.  And so this single ‘thought‘ must overcome great obstacles, setbacks, problems and difficulties before it can realize its full potential. After all, this single ‘thought‘ understands that in order to grow BIG and expansive that it must accept the harsh realities of life and respond by growing long and strong roots that will support its tremendous weight as it stretches towards the sky. Yes, this single ‘thought‘ knows very well indeed that BIGGER is much, much BETTER!

The Key is to Think Big

A single snowflake of very small stature begins falling from the night sky. By itself it has no hope of changing the world. However, this single snowflake has BIG ambitions and BIGGER ideas. It realizes that like a small thought, it needs to gather together other thoughts (snowflakes) in order to grow BIGGER and STRONGER. And so it decides to fall on top of the highest mountain peak where it interlocks with other like-minded snowflakes. There it waits – waits for the wind to blow and the ground to shake, transforming the single snowflake into one of the most powerful and ferocious forces on earth – a rampaging avalanche.

Think BIG About…

The first step towards becoming a BIG Thinker involves incorporating the habit of thinking BIG into every aspect of your life. You must therefore begin to think BIG about:

• Daily tasks, projects and objectives.
• Your contributions to the world and others.
• Your capacity to think creatively and outside the box.
• Your capacity to think problematically, critically and flexibly.
• Your capacity to provide value to others.
• Your capacity to overcome any obstacle and challenge that is thrown your way.
• Your capacity to stretch your imagination and the possibilities of your current circumstances.
• Your life’s purpose and goals.

Thinking BIG requires that you think Globally about the problems that are confronting your reality. It requires that you see them from a wider and far reaching perspective by asking yourself:

How could this potential solution change the world?

How could this idea revolutionize my industry?

How could the answer to this problem solve a global issue?

You must think BIG without any reservations and without any hesitation in order to contribute more, learn more, become more and stretch yourself and your own abilities beyond their current psychological limitations.

Think Like a…

At times thinking BIG isn’t easy to do from our limited perspective. We are who we are, and thinking BIG just might not be a part of our nature. It’s something that’s difficult to imagine, let alone do. However, there is a way around this that naturally shifts our perspective and makes things a little more fun.

The key to shifting perspective involves stepping outside of yourself and into another persona – essentially becoming someone you are not, yet someone who will help you see things a little BIGGER, better and far more creatively. You could therefore begin thinking BIG like a:

• Child who only sees possibilities in amidst turmoil.
• World Renowned Musician or Artist who has an uncanny ability of creating something out of nothing.
• Professional Athlete who has the will to persist and overcome any obstacle standing in their way.
• Noble Prize Winning Scientist who meticulously works through BIG problems in small ways.
• Billionaire Entrepreneur who knows no limitations in thought or action.

Step into any of these people’s shoes, and you will immediately gain a different perspective about your life and the circumstances that are confronting your reality; you will immediately begin to think more clearly, creatively and problematically; and you start to progressively break down the walls that are preventing you from thinking BIGGER than you have ever thought before.

Furthermore, in order to think BIG you must think from the perspective of having NO limitations and NO fears. It’s as though life is conspiring in your favor, breaking down all walls and obstacles that are standing in your way, thusly releasing your unlimited potential to think BIGGER than ever before.

Barriers to Thinking Big

Thinking BIG is not easy. It’s something that we must learn to cultivate over time on a daily basis in everything we do. However, even when this habit of Thinking BIG is deeply ingrained into our psyche, there will still be times when barriers will need to be overcome, obstacles will need to be surpassed, and old habits will need to be broken. [see: habits] It is during these times that we need to think BIGGER than ever before.

Here is a list of common barriers that prevent BIG thinking:

Limiting Habits

Thinking BIG is a habit that we naturally grow and develop over time. It is a habit that allows us to stretch our imaginations and expand our personal potential. This is all well and good, however, thinking BIG will never become a reality for any of us if we continue to indulge in the following limiting habits that ironically force us to think small:

• Procrastination holds you back and pulls you away from the forward movement of life. [see: procrastination]
• Short-term Thinking denies you the ability to see solutions that lie a few steps ahead.
• Negative Thinking prevents you seeing things that are possible to do NOW and in the future.
• Making Excuses focuses you on what you Don’t Want.
• Solving Insignificant Problems distracts you from what’s most important and from the BIGGER picture.
• Over Analyzing Things wastes time and energy on small matters that are of little significance.
• Seeking Perfection forces you to dabble in things over and over again in an attempt to achieve the impossible. [see: perfectionism]

These habits will constrict your ability to think BIG about your life and circumstances, because they force you to think small, to think about insignificant events and circumstances in unproductive ways, thusly draining all your creative energies from the inside out.

Peer Judgment and Criticism

People judge what they don’t understand or can’t comprehend. Your BIG ideas and solutions can help change your life, can help change someone else’s life, and as far as you are concerned, they can also help change the world. Not everyone will see things your way, and not everyone will believe what you see, however this shouldn’t stop you from thinking BIGGER than ever before about your life conditions and circumstances. [see: peer influence]

People will always judge, criticize, condemn and complain. It’s just a natural part of human nature. However, this is not a barrier to thinking BIG unless you make it so.

Common Fears

Our fears of Change, Success and Failure can make thinking BIG very difficult to do. We worry about what lies in the future, we stress about not getting things right, and we concern ourselves with worst-case scenarios. These fears constrict us and coil us into a ball of small thoughts, decisions and actions. [see: fear]

Life is about making mistakes, it’s about taking chances, and it’s about thinking BIG about your life and circumstances. Year from now, when you are sitting on your rocking chair at 100 years of age – you sit there with a smile on your face, having no regrets. Yes life might not have gone exactly the way you imagined, but you smile because you thought BIG, took chances and enjoyed the journey. And that’s what life is really all about, isn’t it?

Having No Time or Incentives

When you are pressed for time you begin thinking small and only about things in the immediate future. Thinking BIG requires time, it requires dedicated attention and discipline that forces you to spread your horizons and open your mind to new possibilities and ideas. If you simply can’t find the time to think BIG than you will always live small [see: time management]

In addition, if you live life without any incentives, than there will simply be no motivation to stretch yourself emotionally or physically. Without motivation you will think small and neglect the BIGGER picture after all.

Thinking Big Strategies

Developing the habit of thinking BIG on a daily basis requires a little work and effort. It’s not something that will happen over-night, but it is something that will happen over-time as you apply the following “BIG thinking” strategies consistently and meticulously.

Cultivation is the Key

BIG thinking is a habit that must be cultivated over time. Like any habit, it requires us to develop a plethora of supporting habits that will help us to think BIG far more effectively.

Empowering Language

The language you use on a daily basis is simply a reflection of your thoughts. If your words are riddled with complaining, worrying and criticizing your life circumstances, than you can expect that your life will undoubtedly be a direct reflection of these words. If on the other hand you begin utilizing empowering words and phrases that are focused on solutions, ideas and on expanding possibilities, than your life will also be a reflection of this type of language. [see: language patterns]

Big Ideas, Plans & Goals

When setting goals don’t settle for safety. Think instead of goals that will help expand your comfort zone, push your limits and stretch your imagination. Life is after all too short for anything else [see: plan of action]

Forward Thinking

BIG thinkers are Forwards thinkers. They think several steps ahead, several moves in advance and several years into the future. They understand that life is simply like a game of chess.

If you do not have the ability to think several moves ahead, than you haven’t as yet successfully cultivated the habit of Thinking Big.

Solution Oriented Thinking

BIG thinking is about finding solutions, answers and ideas that will break down the problematic walls that are standing in the way. Solution Oriented Thinking involves asking effective questions that will expand possibilities and open ourselves to alternative perspectives that we never considered before.

Indispensable Qualities

BIG thinking requires us to cultivate several key qualities and traits that will enable us to think BIGGER and better than ever before about our life and circumstances. These qualities include passion, courage, optimism, persistence, discipline and enthusiasm.

Unshakable Belief

BIG thinkers are BIG thinkers because they believe that whatever they can conceptualize in their minds, they can realize in the physical world. [see: beliefs + law of belief] Hence they believe that…

When I envision it, I believe it..

When I believe it, I do it..

When I do it, everything becomes possible..

Relish Time for Thinking

In order to think BIG you must first find the time to think proactively about your circumstances. Most people unfortunately don’t have this privilege. They simply don’t have the time and tend to constantly react to the events and circumstances in their lives. They never actually take the time to STOP and think proactively about solutions and ideas that could make their life easier and solve the problems confronting their reality.

Relish Opportunity to Solve BIG Problems

BIG thinkers love BIG problems!

Problems are nothing more than PUZZLES that need to be pieced together with the right resources and ideas.

BIG thinkers understand that the more often they piece these puzzles together the more proficient they will become at solving future unexpected problems that may rudely show up at the worst possible time. [see: problem solving]

Challenge Weaknesses

Weaknesses are simply things that we have failed to address and consistently focus on over a lifetime. In other words, they are things that we have neglected – and “what you don’t use, you will lose”. Therefore weaknesses should not be seen as limitations, but rather as opportunities for change.

BIG thinkers understand that by challenging their weaknesses they naturally strengthen their ability to deal with the unexpected events and circumstances that life throws their way. In addition, challenging weaknesses adds to their arsenal of skills and resources that they have on hand to help them attain their BIG goals and objectives. [see: strengths + weaknesses]

Strengthen Willpower & Resilience

BIG goals and objectives are only achieved by those with the Willpower and Resilience to keep on moving when everyone else has stopped dead in their tracks. BIG thinkers clearly understand this, and they therefore strengthen their Willpower and Resilience on a daily basis even when performing the smallest of tasks.

Ask BIG Questions like a Child

BIG thinkers ask BIG questions consistently and persistently until the right answer comes to mind. [see: questions] They ask:

How can I do this better than anyone else?

How can I think more creatively about this?

How can I take this to another level?

How can I think even bigger?

Gather Required Resources

BIG thinkers realize that thinking BIG is only the 1st step that leads to BIG change. They know that to conceptualize a BIG idea is one thing, but to actually bring this idea into reality is completely another ballgame. They therefore strategically gather all the necessary resources, tools, knowledge and support – in advance – that they need to bring their BIG ideas into the physical world.

Create Artificial Problems

BIG thinking requires GREAT problem solving. Without problems there could never be a BIG thought or IDEA. Ideas are “ideas” because they help to solve problems that we experience on a daily basis. Without problems “ideas” are nothing, and progress will be very hard to come by. BIG thinkers clearly understand this principle, and for that reason they create Artificial Problems for themselves on a daily basis. They do this for two reasons:

1. To strengthen their Problem Solving ability.
2. To stretch their imaginations.

Keep in mind that Artificial Problems can at times lead to unexpected and very practical solutions for other seemingly unrelated aspects of life.

Build Systems & Processes

Thinking BIG isn’t easy, and that is why it’s important to streamline the process as much as possible by building effective systems that will enable you build your ideas, accelerate decision making and support your creativity.

Constantly Make Bold BIG Decisions

BIG thinkers take BIG risks and make bold and BIG decisions on a daily basis that others may not openly support. However, BIG thinkers understand that their ability to think BIG allows them to see things from a far wider perspective that others cannot. And for that reason they are also independent thinkers who don’t base their decisions on people who only think in small and minuscule ways. [see: decision making]

Take Calculated Risks

BIG thinkers are not Unrealistic thinkers who take crazy risks. BIG thinkers are SMART thinkers who make sure to weigh up the consequences of their decisions thoroughly – on all aspects of life – before taking action.

Take Proactive Action

BIG thinking without ACTION is only DREAMING. To think BIG you must act BIG and move towards your goals and objectives in a thought-provoking meticulous manner each and every single day.

Set Goals Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Thinking BIG and setting goals that are beyond your Comfort Zone goes hand-in-hand. In fact, the size and the degree of difficulty of obtaining your goal will provide you with a good indication of how BIG you are thinking at any particular moment. However, we must of course keep in mind that setting goals that are too far beyond our reach is actually counterproductive. If these goals are not attained – this can lead to stress, worry, fear, procrastination and a plethora of other limiting emotions and behaviors.

Your goals must be believable, achievable and must effectively follow the SMART FOR ME goal setting method. [see: goal setting]

Set Challenging Time-frames for Objectives

Some goals might seem easy to achieve on the surface. However, if you fiddle around with the time-frame a little bit, you will find that even the easiest of goals can become somewhat challenging.

BIG thinkers clearly understand that in order to keep themselves on target, motivated and moving quickly, that they must continuously test themselves and their ideas. And this involves setting challenging time-frames that test their limits and push their comfort zone. [see: comfort zone]

Focus on Planning & Starting Small

Within the introduction of this post we talked about the snowflake and the seed. Both started small, and yet both had BIG ideas that took a little time to cultivate and grow. The same applies to real life. We must think BIG but focus on planning and starting small.

Focus on ONLY What Want

BIG thinkers are Solution Oriented thinkers who ONLY focus on what they want to do, have, be and achieve. They don’t care about the details – at first – or on what cannot be done. Instead they focus on the BIG picture and on the possibilities of bringing an idea to fruition. Later however, they ask effective questions that breaks down their idea into workable parts – making them practical in real-life scenarios.

Focus on Highest Value Activities

BIG thinkers always attempt to maximize the use of their time. As a result they primarily focus on only the Highest Value Activities that will help them to bring their BIG ideas into reality.

Focus on Your Abilities & Strengths

When conceptualizing BIG ideas, BIG thinkers take into account their personal strengths and abilities. They realize that by conceptualizing ideas that naturally support their strong attributes and talents, that they will be able to bring forth more motivation and dedication to bring their ideas to fruition.

Consistently Reframe Problems

BIG thinkers consistently reframe their problems by expanding possibilities and perspectives. In other words, they first see the problem for what it is, then they twist their perspective of the problem in a creative way to help them brainstorm better ideas and solutions. [see: reframing reality]

Consistently Surround Self with Ambitious People

Finally, BIG thinkers associate with other BIG thinkers who are ambitious, motivated and inspire others to think BIGGER, act BIGGER and become BIGGER than they ever imagined was possible.

Final Thoughts

It is reasonable to expect that BIG thinkers don’t always realize their BIG Ideas. However, what they do realize is that life doesn’t always get them what they want, but rather what they need – in the long-term – to help support the achievement of their BIGGEST goals and objectives. Furthermore, they understand that thinking BIG is not something that just happens to us, nor is it an attitude about life. It is rather a state of mind that we must choose to cultivate on a daily basis that becomes our life’s attitude over a lifetime.

Books from Amazon

• The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
• Thinking Big: Progressive Ideas for a New Era by James Lardner & Nathaniel Loewentheil
• Thinking Big: The Keys to Personal Power & Maximum Performance by Brian Tracy
• Think Big: Unleashing Your Potential for Excellence by Ben Murphey & Cecil Carson
• How to Make Millions with Your Ideas: An Entrepreneur’s Guide by Dan S. Kennedy