Life Supreme — Page 67
70. LIFE SUPREME "Say, my prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the worlds". . FAILURE VERSUS DEFEAT (6:163). . The meaning of failure and defeat are not synonymous. Whereas defeat suggests conquest, failure need be no more than a temporary set-back. This is certainly the meaning given to failure by the goahead and successful minded individual who is resolute and has firmly implanted in his mind the achievement of a definite goal in life. He constantly visualises its ultimate fulfilment and has no doubt that it will sooner or later materialise. He knows that positive thinking is the road to success and he regards no obstacle in his path to be a permanent barrier; as soon as one arises he proceeds to smash it down; and then he climbs over its battered remnants and proceeds onwards towards his goal. . The spineless individual throws up his hands in despair before the first hurdle. He moans that circumstances are against him, whereas he has no one to blame but himself for his stagnant condition throughout life. The progressive individual looks upon every problem, obstacle and adversity as a test of strength and character. He is determined to turn every difficulty to good account and prove them to be blessings in disguise. A great American once wrote: "I am thankful for the adversities which have crossed my pathway, for they have taught me tolerance, sympathy, self control, perseverance and some other virtues I might never have known. " (Napoleon Hill). PROGRESSIVE LIVING. Progressive and successful living depends on positive thinking and the refusal to regard failure as defeat. Success depends upon successful thinking. Dominant thoughts of the mind reproduce themselves into reality. One should, therefore, close the door of the mind upon all negative thoughts. It has truly been said that thoughts are things. . Were it not for the creative power of thought in man, the condition of the human race and the world in general would be exactly the same as it was in the beginning except for those changes brought about by the laws of nature. The progress of man, inventions of the world, cultivation of crops, advancement of medicine all germinated from the seed of thought which the creative power of the mind translated into material existence and reality.