Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." The word "thinks" here means "to split open, reason out, calculate, reckon, estimate." What are our thoughts centered on? Are they negative? Nothing's going to work out. It's not possible for me. I'm a loser. it's too hard. I can't ... etc. or are they filled with faith in a loving God? Do we trust Him? Do we see God as a loving father who wants what's best for us? Have we felt His love? 

I've noticed two kinds of people in this world. Those who are successful, and those who are not. Successful people have something that others do not ... the traits that lead to success. Two of those traits are confidence and persistence. The losers of this world give up easily when opposition comes. They fear failure so much that they are not willing to try. They often complain and hide behind sarcasm, or they believe they are a victim of someone else's actions. They hope in the wrong things (example, winning the lottery) instead of actively pursuing the things that God is directing them to do. They might not even realize that God is wanting to direct their lives, or that God has specific goals He created them for. Losers make excuses why they aren't able to succeed. They whine and complain about their circumstances, not realizing that their choices or their reaction to the bad choices of others are often the very reason they are in their current circumstances. They are satisfied with less than their potential because they don't realize they are capable of more. They assume that successful people have more luck, whereas often successful people just have more hope and courage. 

I once became the manager of a store that was near the bottom of the company in reaching its sales goals. At a meeting I asked my team if we were the top store in the company how that would change our behavior. We realized we wouldn't be stressed out and pushy with our customers. We would be confident and excited and have perfect visual displays etc. We decided from that moment on to believe we were the number one store in the company and act like it. You know what? We ended that year in the top ten! Believing you are a success can actually make you one. Let's not play limbo with the bars that have been set for us. Let's be pole vaulters! 

My sister has a plaque on her wall that says, "The difference between a beginner and an expert is that the expert has failed more times than the beginner has tried." I like that. It takes confidence to try. It's not fair that some have been raised by failures, and some have been raised by the successful, (and as a result have actually been ingrained with the traits those two categories teach) but that does not need to determine a person's destiny. Just know that it is important to find people who are getting the results in life you would like and follow their example. Ultimately, follow Jesus' example. The truest success anyone can have in life is to fulfill the individual purpose God created each of us specifically for. It's time to get out of that chrysalis and fly like a butterfly.