Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have

When Zig Ziglar declared, “Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome,” he touched the essence of human potential. His words are not mere encouragement, but a proclamation that the mind itself is the gatekeeper of destiny. Talent and ability may be present in every soul, but without positive thinking, they remain buried, unused, like treasures sealed beneath the earth. It is the attitude of the heart that awakens ability and allows it to shine forth into the world.

The ancients knew this wisdom long before Ziglar gave it voice. The philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote that “the happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” The Spartans, fierce in battle, believed not only in training of the body but in fortitude of the mind, for courage springs from belief. So too did Ziglar, a teacher of the modern age, remind us that the mind’s orientation — whether hopeful or despairing — determines whether one’s talents bloom or wither. Positive thinking is the water that nourishes the seeds of ability.

History gives us luminous testimony. Consider the life of Thomas Edison, whose early teachers dismissed him as slow and incapable of learning. By the measure of the world, his ability might have been wasted. Yet he clung to optimism, declaring that each failure brought him one step closer to success. Through that unwavering positive thinking, he unlocked his natural gifts of creativity and perseverance, giving humanity the light bulb and countless other innovations. Without hope, his ability would have remained dormant; with it, he reshaped the world.

Ziglar’s wisdom also strikes at a universal truth: many are rich in gifts but poor in vision. Fear, doubt, and negativity become chains that bind ability. A singer may have a beautiful voice but will not share it if convinced of inevitable failure. A leader may have vision but will not step forward if paralyzed by despair. In each case, it is positive thinking that breaks the chain, liberating ability to serve both the self and the world.

At the heart of this teaching lies empowerment. Ziglar does not claim that positivity creates talent where none exists; rather, he shows that it awakens what is already within. Each soul carries abilities — small or great, humble or mighty — but they remain silent until the mind dares to believe they matter. To think positively is to say, “What I have is enough to begin,” and in that beginning, doors open to growth, mastery, and greatness.

The lesson is clear: cultivate a mindset of positivity, for it is the key that unlocks your hidden strength. Do not waste your life comparing your gifts to others, nor bury them under fear. Instead, affirm daily that what you have is sufficient, and that by using it with hope, it will grow. Remember that even the greatest accomplishments of history began with ordinary people who dared to think positively about their abilities.

In practice, this means training your mind as diligently as your hands. Begin each day with affirmations of gratitude and possibility. When failure comes, refuse to let it be the final word; instead, see it as a stepping stone toward mastery. Surround yourself with voices of encouragement rather than despair. And above all, act — for ability awakened by positive thinking must be exercised if it is to bear fruit.

Therefore, let us carry Zig Ziglar’s wisdom: positive thinking will let you use the ability you already have. Do not wait for perfect circumstances, nor for talents you imagine must appear. Begin with what is in your hands, believe in its worth, and let positivity release its power. In this way, you will discover that your gifts, when awakened by hope, are not only sufficient — they are awesome.