Before we start this post and in fact this series, I must say, I’m no philosopher and I have no degree in Philosophy… however, what I do have is an inspired mind and one full of real life philosophy – yet one that’s still learning and developing today.

I’ve been studying philosophy and the philosophies of people all my life, without even realizing it. And so have you. When we grow up, we grow up developing our philosophies, which will guide us for the whole of our lives, based on the philosophies we see and perceive of others around us.

We are what we are from both nature and nurture, but I believe our philosophy comes mostly from the nurture, from our environment, from the people that surround us.

Jim Rohn, not a philosopher but certainly a man with a great philosophy once said, “Character isn’t something you were born with and can’t change, like your fingerprints. It’s something you weren’t born with and must take responsibility for forming.”

Jim Rohn spoke tirelessly about philosophy during his talks and seminars and he has in fact been the biggest influencer on my personal philosophy during my life to yet.

He came from a farming town in the Great North American State of Idaho and had achieved nothing until a man, Earl Shoaff, came along and changed both his philosophy and his life forever. Jim then made it his mission to change as many lives and philosophies as he could during his life to. He did.

He believed that “The major value in life is not what you get.” but “The major value in life is what you become.” And that is why your philosophy is so important to your success.

By having a successful philosophy, the traits of which I’ll save for another blog post, another day, you are sure to have a successful life. Yet, if you have a poor philosophy, one of laziness, hate, blame, and waiting for something else to come along, then guess what? It’s a poor life that will forever be waiting for you.

Jim once said, “Your philosophy determines whether you will go for the disciplines or continue the errors,” and yet, “Success is nothing more than a few disciplines, practiced everyday day,” he said.

So if you’re finding life a little hard or perhaps you’re not in the place you would like to be, then there are many reasons for why… but as the branches of a tree, stem from the trunk… the issues of your life, will always stem from your philosophy.

“Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out.” Said Jim, and that’s why if you’re facing a downward spiral or even just spiral that’s not going up nor down, then the first place to look should be your philosophy. Remember that, do that and you could be in a much better place 6 months from now.

This is the first of a serious of philosophy posts, which I will be writing over the coming weeks. For further reading, please click here. And don’t forget to have a look at some of Jim Rohn’s videos to! One I posted to the site, can be found here: Jim Rohn – Do The Best You Can

Wrote by Joe Brown - Part of the Personal Philosophy Series