I remember asking Mark Messier after the incredible ’94 season, “Mark, what were you thinking when you guaranteed Game 6 against the Devils, in their house in the playoffs?” His answer was simple, “I wasn’t!”
It’s rare that any of us can be like Mark and back up our thoughts in such a way that we don’t have to filter them beforehand. Why? Because a person’s mind is consumed by over 60,000 thoughts every day and your thoughts - that are articulated into words and then actions - have a tremendous impact on your life.
The timeless adage says:
Watch your thoughts for they become your actions.
Watch your actions for they become your habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
Watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
I like this because it emphasizes the importance of positive thinking. Your thoughts must stay positive and you should surround yourself with positive people.
More of these ideas are outlined in Norman Vincent Peale’s best-selling book, The Power of Positive Thinking. I think it’s a must-read because it shows the importance of your thoughts and how they influence your life.
One of the best ways to stay positive, as I always say, is recognize what’s important to you during the first 90 seconds of your day. It sets the tone for what you want to accomplish.
Even after the Rangers amazing win on May 25, 1994, if he had to do it all over again, would Mark guarantee a victory? It’s a little unclear. But, what is clear, is that if you do have a provocative thought that can drive action and you’ve assessed it’s potential impact on the way you carry yourself, it’s likely to have a positive influence on your life.
So, what are you thinking about?
