The Psychology of Winning

Dennis Waitley

 Quality 1:  Positive Self-Expectancy 

"Life is a self fulfilling prophecy. True winners go into every event expecting to win."
This quality means always having the thought that you can do it in your head. Whenever you are presenting a project or you're at a job interview, always keep in mind that you are going to do good no matter what. Don't start a race without the motivation to finish it. Keeping that in mind will boost your confidence up more and you won't be afraid to accomplish anything. If at first you don't succeed, then try again because the third time's the charm. If you tell yourself that you are going to win and you know you can do it, then nothing will hold you back. You winning will become a habit and you will want nothing but to win at life. Succeed and show everyone that they can do it too. At the end of the day, it helps you get better. Tell yourself you are a winner. Tell yourself that you can do it no matter what. Tell yourself that you're not going to give up. Keeping those thoughts inside your head on repeat every single day, will help you keep that confidence boost you need throughout your life.

 Quality 2: Positive Self-Motivation 

"True winners dig deep and find motivation inside themselves to get through that tough task or to learn a new skill."

To have motivation you believe in yourself no matter what. You tell yourself you can do it even though a lot of people are telling you you can't. When it comes to completing an assignment or doing an interview for a job, you need to have self- motivation so you know that you can do it. You walk in the place or present something with the confidence you have within yourself. For example, when we had to do the IDPs for 9-11th grade, we were determined to get the motivation to pass it with a good grade. If they seen we didn't look confident in what we were saying, they would tell us it's going to be fine. We just needed to keep the thought that we can do it if we just believe. Don't let people tell you can't accomplish anything when you know deep down inside that you can. Show them that their words are wrong. If you have the motivation they don't have to get something done, you're already ahead. Keep your head high and let positive thoughts stay inside your head. Block out the negative people that try to bring you down. 

Quality 3: Positive Self-Image

"True winners are confident and view themselves as competent, valuable human beings.

What we view is what we think. Looking into ourselves is one thing to view on but never doubting yourself. Always view yourself as a person with the ability to achieve your dreams. Having a negative view on yourself will change everything in a bad way. You are you, if now one else supports you, that it is up to you that you can do it. Have a positive view on yourself, be that happy, confident, amazing person you are deep inside. View yourself as a nice person above all else, doing this will raise your self-esteem, confidence, and a whole new you that you never expected to see within yourself. People around you will see a winner. They will see a blessed chile ready to start his/her day. They will see a bright light that shines all over you for never giving in and always positive.

Quality 4: Positive Self-Direction

"You gotta have direction if you are going to go anywhere. True winners know where they are going. Their sense of direction comes from the self and not from outside influences like parents or friends."

Self direction is the key to mastery. You need directions to wherever you are going in life. You can't be like a boat without its rudder because then you have no destination. You are going where the wind takes you whether it's good or bad. You need to have a path or an idea of where you will be walking down. You can either be going down the right path or the wrong path. The only one that is able to choose id you. You know where you want to go and only your feet can take you there. If you follow your dreams and keep your head high, then you will be able to get anywhere in life. You first have to start off by believing in yourself every step of the way. Once you build that confidence you need, you can accomplish anything you want. Don't worry if you start on the wrong path. Throughout the time you can always fix yourself to get on the right path. It's never too late to want to change what you are doing just to better yourself. Choose  the new life you want and forget about the old life you had. Many great things will come your way if you stay focused and know the path you are going down. You follow what your heart and mind tells you, not what other people have to tell you. That's another thing; don't let other people tell you the path you must go down. If you know that's not what you want to do or study then tell them. Follow YOUR dreams and no one else's. In the end what matters most is that your happy doing what you wanted to do not what your family or friends wanted you to do.

Quality 5: Positive Self-Control

"Total winners can sacrifice immediate pleasure for a gain in the future. Delayed gratification is of immense value in reaching your goals."

We have our flaws and we have our limitations on certain situations. Our own weaknesses can take advantage and make us lose control of ourselves. Maintaining yourself calm and focused will help with ourselves. We won't lose control, always positive will change the outcome of the bad side or flaws, however you may call it. For example a MMA fighter using anger as a weapon, anger makes you 2x as strong as your original strength but all that power can make you lose control. You can take more hits in and punches and kicks are strong but without any control of your anger, it will be a disadvantage instead of an advantage. Mindlessly punching and kicking, against a good fighter, one good hit can knock you unconscious. Controlling that anger can change the outcome of the fight since you are calm and focused on your opponent instead of your feelings. Having a positive self control taming that anger will guarantee you a win since you have 2x more strength and calm in the fight. Positive Self Control can do so much to help. 

Quality 6: Positive Self-Discipline

You have to discipline yourself or someone else will discipline you into doing what they want you to do. Total winners have the power to discipline and take control of their lives.

Self discipline is the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it. Don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't want to do. If you tell them no and they don't respect that answer then you shouldn't be there with them. Follow your dreams and everything that makes you happy. Keep in mind that you control your life and you make the decisions to what you want to do. Your family isn't going to be there to make the decisions for you. They're not going to tell you what's right from wrong because that's something that you need to know already. Take control of your own life. You make decisions for yourself. You go out and do what makes you happy. In the end what matters most is that your doing what ultimately makes you happy. Yeah your family is going to be there for you and help you along the way, but they can't always make the choices for you. Once you become a grown up, it's your responsibility to care for yourself no matter what happens. If you follow what other people tell you, you won't get anywhere in life. You're going to be busy making them happy but what about your happiness? Make a change if you don't like what someone is doing or telling you. Only you have the power to to take control of your life so don't let someone else have that power against you. 

Quality 7: Positive Self-Esteem

Your mood and outlook on life affect the way you see the world and how you interact in it. Total winners are positive, powerful people who make people feel good and provide a good vibe to those around him/her.

Self-Esteem is being able to tell yourself that you can do it. You are able to keep your head high even in difficult situations. You don't let one bad grade or one's negative comments get to you because you know you are better than that. You believe in yourself every step of the way with little to no doubt in your mind. If something doesn't end up the way you want it, don't give up. You giving up is lowering your self esteem and for you to go and accomplish more things. You are going to keep think you're a failure. In reality, no one is a failure. Yeah you don't succeed at some things but that doesn't make you a failure. You try your best and try again. Your self-esteem can be used anywhere you go. In school, your job, family etc. You always want to keep your self esteem high no matter what because that will help you accomplish the goals you want in life. Some ways to keep your self esteem high is to 1) Avoid negative self-talk. 2) Connect with people who love you. 3) Learn to be assertive. 4) Focus on your positives. There are a lot more way to keep your self esteem high but these are just the main ones to look at. Always think positive even with the negative talk you hear about yourself. Those people are mean because they are hurting themselves. Keep your head high and I promise nothing can go wrong. Don't give up and just believe in yourself all the time. 

Quality 8: Positive Self-Dimensions
Total winners like in the present. They know that now is all there is. They don't get caught up in the past or worry about the future. They simply handle the business that they can handle which is stuff going on today, now.
To have self dimension, you are looking beyond yourself for meaning in life. At the same time you don't worry about what's going to happen in the future or worry about how your past went. You simply focus on what is going on in the moment. If you focus too much on the future, you're not going to have the life you wanted as a teenager. Your future forms when everything is going good in the present. If you stay focused on what to accomplish for later on, then your dreams will come true. Being focused too much on the past and/or future, will get you distracted from what actually is going to happen in the present. You have every right to think about your future but don't get lost in it. Focus on making your future the best it can be because that's what matters. By you having the future you want, you must make the best of the present. Believe in yourself and that will take you as far as you need to go. Only you have the knowledge of what's going to happen for your life. You are the driver to your future. Make it the best ever and nothing can go wrong.

Quality 9: Positive Self-Awareness
 Total winners are aware of their power. They understand that they can be anything with enough effort and determination.
Self-Awareness is the conscious knowledge of one's own character, feelings, motives and desires. The ability to take an honest look at your life without attachment to it being right or wrong. The process of you succeeding will be stressful and sometimes painful but in the end you get a greater self-awareness. You have become more aware of what's going on in your life and the things you need to do to become successful. You don't conceive your life as right or wrong. You go by how it is now. No one's life is right or wrong because nobody is perfect. You will succeed in life and you will fail. You need to learn to not let that bring you down. You should learn from that so you can succeed once more. Keep that self-awareness with you at all times because it will help you in your life. It will help you with situations you know are coming and situations that come out of nowhere. Don't let anything bring you down. Whether you are right or wrong, keep your head high. Learn from your mistakes and move on with life. Keep on going to accomplish those goals you have set for yourself. 

Quality 10: Positive Action

Total winners take positive action in their business and with their friends and family. They are uplifting and motivating individuals who inspire the best from themselves and other