There were two men who graduated from the top law school in the country. The men were top in their class and each possesses the exact qualification for success. However with all the academics both men had, one man failed while other man succeeded at the same profession.

These stories are all too common. What characteristics does a person possess that will help him succeed in life. The secret of success goes beyond liking or disliking ones job. It is more than intellect or physical abilities. It is more to do with attitude and how we respond to our circumstances.

Victor Frankl wrote: "Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of human freedoms-to choose one's attitudes in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's way." To choose our attitude is a choice. As humans, we have the freedom of choice bestowed on all of us.

What we think and how we react to circumstance will have an impact on our attitude. If we are faced with a negative situation and we respond in a negative way, we help create a negative environment.

Our thoughts dictate our attitude, feelings actions. Bob Proctor says; "Attitude is actually a creative cycle that begins with your choice of thoughts. " Therefore, "you must choose your thoughts and that choice is where your attitude originates." As you create ideas and emotions, your thoughts that you have created forms attitudes that change the mind and body into a new "conscious awareness called feelings".

These new feelings that Bob Proctor mentioned will dictate our actions. The results we achieve in life are a combination of thoughts, actions and feelings.

How to achieve in life? We need to become a student of our thoughts and change the negative thoughts into more positive thoughts. There will be always be unhappiness in the world but we have the choice on whether to dwell on the unhappiness or choose a different outlook.

If we are people who will tend to blame others and circumstance for our problems it is time take responsibility of our current circumstances. To win in life is a choice which only we can control.

Only you and you alone can choose the life you want to live. My friend Ian, who has cerebral palsy, has chosen not to allow his condition from stopping him from skiing and playing basketball. Ian decided not to allow his limitations to stop him. Ian decided to make a choice about his life and Ian has chosen to think positively of himself.

Doretha Brand said; "you can experience the life you want by making a choice. Act as if it were impossible to fail. By simple being aware of your thoughts, you can choose an entirely different life by adopting a positive attitude which will attract other positive people and circumstance to you".