Yes, yes, yes! I’ve once again finished a book to expand my “If You’re Embarrassed, I’ll Read It for You” series.
This time, Sayra S. Montes joins the club with her must-read book, Train Your Mind to Be Successful! It’s a must-read—unless you’re buggy and paranoid, because some of the things in here might make your hair stand on end, and you’ll want to scream and run away from yourself. According to the author, “If you say something out loud, it’s ten times more powerful than just thinking it! And hold on tight—if your thought is negative and you say it out loud, its impact increases by four to seven times.” Quick math tells us this means that spewing negativity increases your chances of something shitty happening to you by 40 to 70 times, compared to just sulking in your dark, noise-filled brain. Let’s be honest—that’s not great. So, the key takeaway here is: don’t be an a**hole. Not in your thoughts, not in your words, and definitely not in your actions. Don’t sit around stewing in darkness.
Besides, another reason not to be a jerk is that it’s just better to be a cool person—which doesn’t mean being rude or arrogant. When we put these two points together, it’s clear: the trash can should remain a bin, and you should just be cool. Don’t tense up into jerk mode.
Expanding my wisdom further, I also learned from this book that I don’t have to freak out over random trashy thoughts. Instead, I should ask myself useful questions like, “How is this thought serving me?” or “Do I feel good about this?” If the answer is no, I can mix it out of my mental playlist like a thought-DJ. Simple and brilliant. The book is packed with practical tips like this. BUT.
Visualization!
This magical concept was also used by Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich, though not exactly in the same context. (You’ll find the link to that book at the end of this article once its translation is ready.) Here, the idea is to focus on the bigger picture. Deep self-analysis is highly recommended for personal growth. Whether you imagine the best or worst possible outcome, visualizing situations gives you the opportunity to study them in advance.
From a technical standpoint, the interesting thing about this method is that it’s not about obsessing over becoming a billionaire but rather about focusing on the journey. The key is to understand the tools you’ll need along the way. Instead of fixating on the end goal, you should visualize what steps you need to take to achieve success.
The author explains these concepts using frequencies, which is an idea you might agree with—after all, everything has its own energy. Good attracts good, except when it doesn’t. That’s what we call life’s way of asking: “Sure, you wanna this?!” (Author’s note.)
On top of that, this book reinforces the idea that our goals need to be genuine—even when life try to prove otherwise. (Once again, author’s note.)
Anyhow, the book’s author uses the boomerang analogy to emphasize, once again, the importance of purity in our actions and motivations. The focus should remain on the goal and the steps leading to it. The rest? Leave that to the Universe.
Practical tip: Taking notes can help you stay goal-oriented.
Visualization Methods—How to Get to It
Alright, think filmmaking! One of the suggestions is to mentally create a detailed script about your path to success and fully envision yourself in it. Anytime you have a quiet moment, replay your “road movie” in your mind.
Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich (which I mentioned earlier), imagined a private strategic roundtable with historical figures. Every night, for years, he envisioned discussing his goals with them. Throughout his current challenges, thanks to a lot of self-programming, famous people appeared in his mind, offering their inspirations and subtle whispers of wisdom, leading him toward the solution.
Of course, this required Hill to have deep knowledge of these figures—something Sayra S. Montes also emphasizes. A solid understanding of your field is essential for success. Knowledge is the base.
Another method is creating a vision board—an installation that keeps your goals visually present. Even corporations use this technique.
The author also highlights meditation, which she says is especially useful when your mind is too noisy. We’ve all been there. So, meditate!
What Is Reality?
Beyond debate, a person’s reality is shaped by their thoughts, emotions, words, and beliefs.
Can we retune our reality?
Even deeply rooted self-sabotaging thoughts can be rewritten with enough persistence. Honest self-awareness is crucial. Knowing both your strengths and weaknesses is essential for reprogramming the subconscious mind, which has been shaped by life itself.
The Importance of Desires
As discussed in the previous two books from my “If You’re Embarrassed, I’ll Read It for You” series, this self-fulfilling guide also talks about the significance of desires. Pure, all-consuming, internally driven desires are key to stabilizing a successful mindset.
Environment
People often blame their environment for their situation, which might work for a while. But if you take a magnifying glass and see that your surroundings are toxic, it’s time to exit. Leave the negativity club! Say goodbye to limiting, pessimistic friends and relatives. Yes, relatives too. Turn away from those who talk behind your back. You don’t need negative people in your present, let alone your future. Bye-bye! Live in the positive present that serves as the foundation for your future.
The Road to Success Is Paved with Goals
Think of them as “milestones” that help you navigate toward a successful mindset. Consistent, persistent effort is a non-negotiable part of success.
“Abundance states that the Universe is for you and is you. If you put yourself in harmony with the way of the Universe, it will take care of you abundantly.”
In This Spirit…
Sayra S. Montes, a multilingual teacher and motivational speaker, has written a short, easy-to-read book. Through 17 chapters, she offers practical advice on cultivating a successful mind. It’s true—it sometimes comes across as an almost naïve life guide, but it’s a quick and digestible read. I wouldn’t recommend it to the overly paranoid or buggy spirits, but otherwise, go for it. You won’t lose anything by practicing a little self-control like what’s described above.
The above mentiond books on Hungarian are: here and here.
You can grab your own edition from here
Wonderful.
