Why Closing Your Mind to Negativity Builds Unbreakable Persistence

"There are four simple steps which lead to the habit of PERSISTENCE. They call for no great amount of intelligence, no particular amount of education, and but little time or effort. The necessary steps are:

3. A MIND CLOSED TIGHTLY AGAINST ALL NEGATIVE AND DISCOURAGING INFLUENCES, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.” Page 147 “Think and Grow Rich.”

Your environment will make or break your persistence.

You can have the clearest goal, a strong plan, and even a spark of momentum…
But if your mind is open to doubt, fear, criticism, and negative energy, your persistence will get hijacked.

Think of your mind like a garden. You’ve planted the seeds of your definite goal. But if you allow weeds, negative influences, to grow, they’ll choke your desire before it has a chance to grow roots.

Let’s look at how this step reinforces the 6-step formula for turning desire into riches:

Step 1. Define Your Goal: Negativity causes confusion. A closed mind protects your clarity.

Step 2. Decide What You’ll Give: Negativity makes you feel like you don’t have enough to offer. A closed mind reminds you of your value.

Step 3. Set a Deadline: Negative influence whispers, “That’s too soon.” Persistence ignores that.

Step 4. Make and Execute Your Plan: Negative opinions create hesitation. Persistence moves forward anyway.

Step 5 & 6. Repeat Your Statement with Belief:Belief is impossible when you're surrounded by voices of fear. Protecting your mindset makes repetition effective.

Sarah had a powerful goal: to leave her corporate job and build her own online consulting firm. She followed Hill’s 6-step plan, created her vision, and began executing. But then the outside noise started:

• “That’s risky.”
• “Do people even pay for that?”
• “You should wait until the economy’s better.”

Most of these comments came from well-meaning friends and family. But the impact? Sarah started doubting herself. Her momentum slowed.

She this part of Chapter 9. That’s when it clicked: She wasn’t failing, she was letting others’ doubts become her own.

Sarah took action:
She stopped sharing her plans with those who didn’t believe.
She joined a mastermind group of like-minded entrepreneurs.
She replaced daily news scrolling with her goal statement readings.

Within months, she not only quit her job but had tripled her income. Why? Because she closed her mind to outside noise — and opened it only to her vision.

If your mind is open to negativity, even just a little, your persistence leaks out. That’s why guarding your mindset is not optional. It’s a non-negotiable wealth habit.

Ask yourself:

• Who am I allowing to influence my belief system right now?
• What books, conversations, or media might be pulling me away from persistence?
• How can I better protect my mind this week?

Start small:

• Limit exposure to toxic conversations
• Surround yourself with goal-oriented, positive thinkers
• Reinforce your 6-step plan by reading it aloud with confidence

Don’t just build a plan. Build a mental fortress around it. Join our Think and Grow Rich Activated workshop series now!