I’ve been having an ongoing war in my backyard with a very aggressive squirrel who loves to eat the birdseed I put in my feeder. I’ve tried everything to stop him and installed a thin rope on the feeder thinking he would be unable to climb down it. I watched as this little squirrel became the rope. He wrapped his body around it, literally taking on the shape of the line and gradually climbed down the rope and on to the feeder. As I watched this little critter stealing my birdseed something came to mind: In order to succeed you need to become the thing you want.

I know it is a strange association, but that little bandit provided a good life lesson. We have to give thought to what it is we want in life, really research it down to the small details, and then “become” that person. Wake up every morning and live out your life as the person you want to be. We have to see ourselves doing the things that this person would do, make it your grand vision. Every day imagine yourself as this person. See yourself doing the things you want for this person; imagine the work that will be involved, even experience the joy you are going to feel once you have accomplished a goal you have set for this person. Literally become the rope.

Years ago there was a popular movement called ‘Dress for Success’ which simply stated that you had to select a position you wanted to attain and then begin to dress for that position. Over time you would take on the personality of the position you were dressing for and others would actually begin to see you in that role as well. Our unconscious mind is a strange creature, it simply accepts what we tell it and then sets out to make that instruction our reality.

And so, like that little squirrel… become the rope.