| Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “Things
do not change: people change.” The only way we
will ever accomplish more than we currently are is to
learn more than we currently know. The only way we will
ever earn more is to learn more than we know now. Hope
is new information. Hope is the greatest motivator in
the world.
Webster’s definition for hope is:
1. To cherish a desire with anticipation
2. To desire with expectation of obtainment
3. To expect with confidence
Let us use a compilation of these definitions and say
that hope comes with expectation and confidence. The
confidence we expect with is our knowledge. All hope,
then, is really the confidence and expectation of an
improvement of a condition. In order to hope you must
have some knowledge, which creates the possibility of
improvement.
By reading books and playing CDs or audiotapes, we
acquire the new knowledge we need to expect an improvement
in our personal or professional lives. If you are making
sales presentations but writing few or no sales orders,
and someone whose opinion you respect gives you some
tips on how to sell your product (or service), you become
excited. You have acquired new knowledge, which creates
the expectation of an improvement in your sales condition.
This is one reason why self-improvement—whether
via books, tapes or CDs—is helpful. They fill
you with new knowledge, and they create hope.
There are many books and audiotapes available on virtually
any self-development subject. Such resources, discriminately
selected, can enable us to improve in any area of our
life or career. I believe that you will never have any
long-lasting success in your career or in your personal
life until you get involved in continual self-improvement.
The Lord gave us the Bible so that we could acquire
the knowledge we need to live our lives successfully.
In addition, many hundreds of talented and successful
authors have published works for us to achieve success
in such areas. As I stated earlier, almost all self-help
and self-improvement ideas are found in the Bible. Timothy
told us to, “Attend to the reading, exhortation,
and teaching.” Books, CDs and tapes are available
so that we can acquire all the knowledge we need to
earn the living we want and to become the person we
want. Do not be guilty of ignoring such a wealth of
resources. Many such resources are available free at
your public library or on the Internet. According to
Mark Twain, the person who knows how to read and does
not is living in a worse state than the person who cannot
read.
You can kindle (or rekindle) your hope with self-improvement. |
