On April 23, 1910, Theodore Roosevelt gave what would become one of the most widely quoted speeches of his career. In Paris at the Sorbonne, Roosevelt delivered a speech called “Citizenship in a Republic,” which would come to be known as “The Man in the Arena.”
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt, Twenty-Sixth POTUS
I have quoted Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech since I saw it painted on our weight room wall at UM in 1995. It’s a constant reminder to ignore the noise, buckle my chinstrap, and battle through whatever comes my way.
110 years ago today, at the Sorbonne in Paris, Theodore Roosevelt gave what would become one of his most quoted speeches: "Citizenship in a Republic," a.k.a. "The Man in the Arena." https://t.co/WbFkduu0vC
“Anything is possible if you have the mindset and the will and desire to do it and put the time in.” Roger Clemens
Financial mindset consists of a predetermined set of beliefs, thoughts, habits and behaviors an individual has about saving by paying yourself first, investing for the long-term and accumulating wealth for financial well-being.
Every person has a set of beliefs, thoughts, habits and behaviors about money and personal finance. Even if they can’t express what their thoughts and mindset are, they still exist subconsciously. By observing your own financial outcomes, you can begin to better understand your financial mindset, behaviors and habits.
Without a positive financial mindset, it is difficult to develop the good financial habits and behaviors that will be necessary to lead to an improved financial outcome and well-being.
A positive financial mindset means knowing that if you just hang in there long enough, things will work out financially with the correct financial habits and behaviors. Even if you partake in one positive action each day, your confidence and belief will grow, along with your wallet.
Focusand Thoughts
“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” Michael Jordan
Mindset is basically about your thoughts and a harbinger of what you focus on in the short and long term.
When you focus a thing, be it positive or negative, your mind has a tendency to heighten your attention on that thought. As a result, by focusing on one thing, such as the fear and uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, you have a tendency to miss other things good and positive happening around you. Essentially, your focus becomes the filter in which you observe your world.
Focus on opportunities
“No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities, always see them, for they’re always there.” Norman Vincent Peale
This too will pass is a common refrain worth remembering in trying times like these created by the pandemic. History and good old common sense tells us that crises always come to an end and this COVID-19 will be no different.
We can control our thoughts, mindset and where we focus our attention. Thus, it behooves us to focus our thoughts on those things we can control and to think about what we need to do now, in the short term, to survive the current storm and prepare our paths for future opportunities and better days.
It’s about doing things now, in the downtime, in order to be prepared and prime to operate in the uptime. It is about laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s long-term financial success during today’s challenging times.
By focusing on the negative and on things outside our control, we can miss the other things and opportunities happening around us.
Positive Attitude
“Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.” John N. Mitchell
Nothing is going to change in your life unless you change a negative attitude and mindset. And, you can change your life almost immediately if you can change your attitude and mindset. Many have said that, “A bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don’t change it, you’ll never go anywhere.”
Furthermore, John N. Mitchell said it best when he said that, “Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.” We’ve all heard about the power of our attitude, and that it’s our attitude can determine the altitude of your success in life.
Gratitude is the expression of appreciation for what one has.
Attitude of Gratitude and why gratitude sprouts happiness
“The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side” refers individuals who are not satisfied with their own lot in life and always assumes that there are better things in other places. This view appears to be a common human quality of always wanting something different than what you have. It assumes that your neighbor’s yard ( or circumstance) is greener (or more desirable) than yours, when, in reality, they are the same or your neighbor is actually coveting what you have.
“The grass is greener” expresses the idea that people often think a different set of circumstances would bring them greater happiness and joy in life; however, the phrase is often used in the context of reminding people that this is not usually the case. A more apt phrase is “the grass is greener where you water it., ” suggesting that good situations come from the energy you put into them, not from dreaming about them.
Developing an attitude of gratitude means that over time, gratitude can boost happiness and fosters both mental and psychological health, even among those already struggling with mental and physical health problems.
According to Psychology Today, “Gratitude is about feeling and expressing appreciation: for all we’ve received, all that we have (however little it may be), and for all that has not befallen us.” Studies show that practicing gratitude curbs the use of words expressing negative emotions and shifts inner attention away from such negative emotions as resentment and envy, minimizing the possibility of ruminating, which is a hallmark of depression.
Gratitude is a key tenet in all major philosophies and religions. That’s because gratitude is the foundation of happiness. We only have a limited amount of focus, so when you are able to be appreciative of what you have, your brain is unable to give life and energy to thoughts about what you don’t have. Seeing events in your life as gifts allow you to perceive how they may help you grow and become a better person, and the application of this attitude during tough times is the hallmark of resilience.
“Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day. Cultivate the merry heart, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast.”
“Studies show that people can deliberately cultivate gratitude—and there are important social and personal benefits to doing so. It is possible to feel grateful for loved ones, colleagues, animals, nature, and life in general. The emotion generates a climate of positivity that both reaches inward and extends outward.” Norman Vincent Peale
Happiness is arguably one of the most important goals in life.
“Happiness has to do with your mindset, not with outside circumstance.” Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free
“Happiness is best described as coming from between — that is if you get the right kind of relationship between yourself and other people, yourself and your work, and yourself and something larger than yourself… if you get those three relationships right … it will draw you out into the world, it will engage your passions, it will give you the kind of support that you need and want and it’ll give you a sense of meaning and purpose in life,” according to happiness expert Jonathan Haidt, the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, based in the Business and Society Program at New York University.
“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one.” Benjamin Franklin
What makes a person feel happy and grateful depends on the person and the degree to which we are inclined to experience and express gratitude. It can be something as simple as a call from a friend or a pleasant evening dinner with family. Engaging in a more specific act and how we think about an act, such as volunteering your time and talent to help others, can make people feel good about themselves.
“It isn’t what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People
Tips to Foster Gratitude
Keep a journal of or in some way note big and little joys of daily life.
Write down daily “three good things”—identify three things that have gone well for you and identify the cause.
Write thank-you notes to others.
Think about people who have inspired you and what about them was most significant.
Engage in “mental subtraction.” Imagine what your life would be like if some positive event had not occurred.
“Gratitude is the appreciation of things that are not deserved, earned or demanded – those wonderful things that we take for granted.” – Renée Paule
Learning to be thankful and regularly expressing gratitude is an important part of personal happiness. Being thankful gives us an appreciation for what we have.
