Formula for Success

This week, I had the chance to read an article written by President Monson several years ago. In this talk, he gave his formula for success. Although his formula is simple, it is not easy.  He said, “First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love.”

I thought it was interesting that he included filling your mind with truth as the first principle. He told a story of a monkey who lived in a cage near the airport. Every time an airplane took off, the monkey would screech and shake his bars. He had made the connection between him shaking the bars and the airplane leaving, deciding that he was scaring the plane away.

How many times have we made a similar error? When I was in 4^th grade, I had a favorite pair of pink pants. Every time I wore them, I did well in school. I decided they were my “lucky pants”. I had to wear them every time we had a test so that I could do well. This may be a silly example, but there are many times when we draw the wrong conclusions. We need to investigate to make sure that we know the truth.

The second principle of success is to fill our lives with service. This can look very different depending on the capabilities of the person serving and the needs of the person the service is being done for.  It may be something as simple as feeding the missionaries, or as complex as serving a mission. Service helps us be closer to our Heavenly Father.

The third principle is to fill our hearts with love. The benefits of this go without saying. Love one another is the greatest commandment, and will bring untold blessings.

Other thoughts: 

• What is your attitude toward money?
  
  Although money is important, it is not the most important thing to focus on. It’s simply a tool to help others.
  
  
• How can your view of money affect the way you live?
  
  A person’s view of money can have a huge effect on the way they live. A person becomes what they focus on. If they view money as the most important thing in the world, this is all they will focus on, generally this will make them stingy and miserly. It will generate unhappiness and prevent them from reaching their full potential. On the other hand, if a person has a healthy respect for money as a tool to help others and build the Kingdom of God, they will be more likely to have a more balanced life, which leads to increased happiness.
  
  

What rules are recommended for prospering?

Rule 1. Seek the Lord and have hope in him

Rule 2. Keep the commandments, that includes the temporal ones, tithing and fast offerings.

Rule 3. Think about money and plan how you can become self-reliant.

Rule 4. Take advantage of chances for learning so you will not be ignorant of these matters.

Education, as President Hinckley has taught us, is the Key to Opportunity.

Rule 5. Learn the laws upon which the blessings of wealth are predicated.

Rule 6. Do not send away the naked, the hungry, the thirsty or the sick or those who are held

captive.