“You become what you think about all day long.” – Earl Nightingale

Our minds are a powerful force in our lives. One thought, perpetuated to fruition, can lead to wide scale crisis. That same mind, given a productive and enlightened focus, can create enormous benefits and blessings.

As human beings we are bound by the laws of physics. The law “nature abhors a vacuum” applies to our thought life as well.

Stop right now, and check your thoughts. What is the dominant thinking you have going on inside right now? Thoughts of self, frustration, and survival? Or thoughts of encouragement, making your world better, modeling exemplary leadership qualities?

Many times our thoughts are fixed on the material things of this world. While these things can enrich our lives and be enjoyable, they do perish over time. The thing we wanted in our teens seem worthless in our 20’s. And what we desired for in young adult life no longer has meaning in our 40’s. The treasures and libraries of the Roman Empire’s influential conquests went  to other nations over time, and their best buildings are gone or seriously decayed. The same holds true for kings, businesses, and individuals.

It seems that our generation is realizing (better, rediscovering) the value of, a relationship economy; or as Seth Godin says, a connection economy. The world is more connected, yes, but that means people to people, not people to things. We may be “attached” to our smartphones, but is it the social media apps we think about or the people on the other side that we’re communicate with?

Can we transcend our thinking to others, not in them as material, but as people born to be enriched by the gifts we have to offer? Mark Miller gave a wonderful assessment in his blog Great Leaders Serve last week when he closed “I don’t see people as an asset. I see them as a gift.”

What are you thinking, especially about those in your world? Do we think about being rich in things, or being rich towards those we interact with daily? With the right attitude, heart, and character, you can be the type of influence that outlasts your time.

“It’s your thoughts behind the words you speak that create your attitude.” – Jeffrey Gittomer

(image courtesy of http://www.clker.com)