Belief is a Skill

On the night before battle, a general mapped and communicated his strategy to his officers. One of the other officers said, “Tactics are pointless, the gods already decided who will win.”

Taking the officer's words seriously, the General pulled a coin out of his pocket and said, “Heads, we conquer; tails, we fall. Deal?” The officer agreed. The coin showed heads.

News of the “omen” raced through camp. Buoyed by certainty, the army attacked with ferocity and crushed the enemy.

In the victory speech, the officer asked if the general finally trusted fate. The general revealed the coin's heads on both sides. “It wasn’t destiny,” he said. “It was shared belief. Confidence is a skill we create, not a gift we receive.”

Belief is a skill, and it requires practice. It’s hard to believe things you can’t see or haven’t experienced. But much like any skill, it can be developed through work.

Your success begins with belief.

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is Now a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.