The Power of the Written Word

I know I said it before, but I'll say it again: The best way to turn visualization into reality is to write it down. I have often referred to a book, originally written in 1931 and reprinted many times since, by William H. Danforth called I Dare You. It's a simple book, and it's written in a style that is definitely old-fashioned. But the ideas it contains have not aged. In once section, Mr. Danforth includes a workbook page for readers to write out their "dares" or goals for the future.

He says, "The weak ones who are licked or partially licked will stall here. Will you listen to the little imps whispering in your ears that writing down the things you ought to do is merely piffle? Or will you put things down in black and white that need to be done and never quit until you can say, 'Done!'"

I say, don't dismiss Mr. Danforth's ideas as merely piffle. Over the years, they have proven to be true. More than 10 years ago, I filled out his worksheet focusing on the goals I wanted to accomplish. Today, I say that putting my goals on paper helped me focus on them. Here are the categories he suggests:

• One habit to change.

• One idea to bring to fruition.

• One month's thinking in uncharted fields.

• One idea to share with others.

• One great mental dare for the year ahead.

You can work on all these categories at once, or choose one that is most relevant at this moment. It doesn't matter. As the saying goes, "Just do it!"

No one keeps his enthusiasm automatically. Enthusiasm must be nourished with new actions, new aspirations, new efforts, new visions.

—Papyrus,
philosopher

You're not born enthusiastic. You don't automatically stay enthusiastic. It must be fed, like the furnace on a train, to keep it going. Instead of coal, you shovel in new information and new actions to keep the fire burning.