“Whether you think you can or you think you can't - you're right.” ~Henry Ford

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It is fascinating to consider how deeply our mindset affects our actions, and thus, our outcomes. We are easily able to set ourselves up for failure or success solely based on the plan we have set inside of our hearts. It reveals a foundational truth of life, which is that we do not have control of anything but ourselves. We have a choice to pursue positivity, and our attitude can be constructed for an optimal reality.

My first disclaimer is that choosing a positive attitude does not rid us of our troubles, and it doesn’t necessarily make the pains of life’s trials less difficult. However, we can strengthen our souls through the fortitude of an impeccable attitude. We can believe the best about our future, even if the optimism seems strange or unrealistic. Through our attitude, the outcome of our choices can be changed by the massive undertaking of positivity.

Imagine a life where we stopped making excuses, and bore the burden of our own destiny. It is incredible, but in order to fully understand this mindset, let us first consider what life is like the other way around. Henry Ford made it quite simple in his words, so what is life like for those who think they can’t? The most obvious effect is that it surrounds you with a cloud of negativity. The word no begins to grasp itself onto you, controlling your very being and presence. You begin to be clouded by your own thoughts, all because of choice to believe the worst. The battle is lost before it begins, as the power of your preconceived notion will take control of your thoughts. When you let negativity take a grip, the chance of winning is forfeited. The answer is given before there is a chance for you to consider what you could be if you chose a different path.

But what life took a different turn? What if you said, I can do this, and chose to pursue positivity in front of you. Life could become an endless bundle of opportunities instead of a barrier of limitations. To do this, consider your vision. Another notable figure, Arnold Schwarzenegger, had a similar philosophy. He was a proponent of a creating a vision, of knowing where you want to go to provide a motivational picture in front of you. One of the keys, he often stated, is how you communicate that goal to yourself. You cannot simply hope to achieve a goal, and then wait for it to come true. Instead, inflict power into a personal manifesto. Tell yourself that you will achieve your goal.

You may be wondering why I am making life’s goals such an over-simplification. You may think there is more to it, and you would be right. Of course, there are many external circumstances and situations that shift outcomes. Not everyone can become the President, nor can every person lead a revolution, but my central point is that you have a choice of attitude when facing your future. As the quote tells us, your attitude often dictates your outcome. You can choose to believe the best about what you will become. While this might hurt you, it is a more joyful and optimal painting of life than surrounding yourself in negativity. For you will inevitably be let down and fail miserably at some of your goals when you are clouded by message of self-doubt. You will feel disappointed, and you will fail. But these flames of failure burn off our weaknesses and move you towards something greater, whether that be your next goal or a change of heart.

Remember the American fairy tale of the little engine that could? The train kept repeating words to himself as he triumphed over his difficulty. And what words did this engine choose? I think I can. He did not repeat, I might try. He said, “I think I can.” So remember that we are all fighting our own messages of negativity. We must all push past our self-doubt, past failures, and insufficiencies. Do not let that stop you from achieving your dreams. Let yourself become what you want - not for the purpose of self-centered attention, but in confidence of your vision. For, “whether you think you can or you think you can’t - you’re right.”