I am convinced after more than 50 years in the field of

Hear the words of Zig Ziglar, who after walking the path of countless souls and lighting the fire of courage in them, declared: “I am convinced after more than 50 years in the field of motivation that anyone who wants to learn to look at life and/or their circumstances in a positive light can do so.” These words, though gentle in sound, are mighty in meaning. They reveal that positivity is not the privilege of the fortunate, nor the birthright of the few, but a skill, a discipline, a way of vision that can be learned by any who truly desire it.

For Ziglar speaks from the well of experience. Half a century spent lifting weary hearts gave him the wisdom to see that the difference between despair and hope often lies not in the weight of life’s burdens, but in the light through which one chooses to view them. To look upon hardship and still find meaning, to gaze upon storms and still discover promise—this is the art of living. And like any art, it is cultivated through practice, persistence, and the will to see beyond the shadows.

Consider the story of Helen Keller, who, struck blind and deaf as a child, might have surrendered her life to silence and darkness. Yet through fierce determination and the guidance of her teacher Anne Sullivan, she chose to see her life through a positive light. Though her eyes could not see, her spirit saw farther than most: into the realms of courage, love, and wisdom. Her life was proof that one’s circumstances need not define one’s destiny, for the light that guides us comes not from without, but from within.

History too remembers Viktor Frankl, a prisoner of the Nazi concentration camps, who endured unspeakable suffering. Surrounded by death and despair, he discovered that though man’s body can be imprisoned, the spirit retains one final freedom: the power to choose one’s attitude. In the darkest of conditions, he looked upon his existence with hope and purpose, and through this vision, he survived, later teaching millions that life holds meaning even in suffering. His journey stands as a testament to Ziglar’s truth—that anyone, in any circumstance, can learn to see with new eyes.

The meaning of Ziglar’s words, then, is that positivity is not a gift from fate, but a discipline of the will. To believe otherwise is to surrender to despair. If one desires to change, the transformation begins in the mind, in the daily practice of choosing gratitude over bitterness, hope over cynicism, courage over fear. Even those who stumble may rise, for the act of learning to see differently is itself the path to freedom.

The lesson for us is clear: do not wait for life to grow easier before seeking joy. Instead, learn to shape your vision, to find light in the midst of trial. Begin by giving thanks for small mercies each day, by speaking words of encouragement rather than complaint, by surrounding yourself with those who lift rather than drain. In these simple acts, the eye of the soul begins to change, and in time, the world itself appears brighter.

Practical wisdom calls us to three daily disciplines: first, write down each day one blessing, however small, and dwell upon it. Second, when hardship strikes, ask not only, “Why me?” but also, “What may I learn from this?” Third, extend kindness to another, for in uplifting another’s burden, your own becomes lighter. These actions, repeated, train the heart to look upon all circumstances with a lens of strength and hope.

So let it be proclaimed: anyone who desires to learn to see life in a positive light can do so. For the eye of the soul is not fixed but trainable, not bound but free. Zig Ziglar’s words are both testimony and challenge: to believe that change is possible, and to take up the sacred labor of shaping one’s vision. Do this, and your life will not only be transformed—it will shine as a beacon for others, guiding them also into the dawn of hope.