Stop wasting your time thinking of reasons for your failures and shortcomings. Instead, realize that the seeds of success were planted within you when you were born. Only you have the power to make those seeds grow.
The seeds, and the power to grow them, are contained in the most awesome machine ever created: the human mind. Success is a choice and not a chance. You were born a winner. You were born rich. You can be a success if only you make the right choice.
You cannot be successful without first developing your self-esteem (自信心). Your level of self-esteem is always based on the degree of control that you are able to exercise over yourself, and thus over your life. People with low self-esteem are people who do not believe that they have any power, or responsibility for their lives. They are always victims. They are leaves tossed (摇摆) by the winds of chance blown about with any sudden change in the weather.
You can exercise control over your life only to the degree that you believe you are responsible for everything that happens in your life. Failures think that everything happens by accident and chance. Successful people realize that they are responsible.
Everything happens as a result of something. If we can identify the cause, we can control the effect. We are responsible for what we choose to think and believe. One generally rises to the level that one expects. We are responsible for setting our expectations. Our success is dependent upon our level of confidence.
If you associate with positive-thinking people, you are definitely going to achieve success. On the contrary, the opposite happens. We are responsible for finding, planting, and nurturing (培育) the seeds that contain future victory, born from setbacks (挫折).
In short, in all areas of your life, whether they are financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual, you are responsible. Once you recognize this, accept it, and firmly believe it. You are on the road to success.
5. People with low self-esteem are compared to leaves because they ______.
A. can’t exercise control over themselves B. are easily affected by windy weather
C. don’t have the power to face their fate D. are ready to change their minds
6. Losers would think that ______.
A. success is the result of hard work B. working hard will lead to success
C. they fail only because of bad luck D. they don’t make efforts to succeed
7. It can be inferred from the fifth paragraph that ______.
A. setting our expectations is essential before taking action
B. knowing cause and effect is the key to future success
C. thoughts and beliefs are the result of creative mind
D. whether we will succeed depends on our attitudes
8. The last paragraph serves as ______.
A. the proof of the author’s points B. the conclusion of the argument
C. an introduction to another topic D. a comparison between two views