The Power of Positive Thinking and Belief: The Eddie Murphy Story

Let’s talk about the power of positive thinking and belief. Have you ever noticed that there are those who have been given every advantage in life to succeed, yet they still manage to sabotage their success and destroy their chances at happiness? Then there are those who seem to have every obstacle imaginable thrown in front of them. Yet, they manage to persevere with an unstoppable attitude to succeed, regardless of their circumstances. They even enjoy the process as they go. It is my belief that those in the latter group have the ability to shift their way of thinking, to create an empowering belief system, which will eventually guide them to a successful outcome.

People who are successful tend to predominantly have thoughts of optimism for health, wealth, and abundance. Whether they are conscious of it or not, they simply don’t allow negative thoughts of deficiency and failure to take root in their minds. That doesn’t mean they don’t have negative thoughts. We all do. It simply means that they’re the people who see the glass half full, whose view of life is generally positive. This is the power of positive thinking and belief. It’s easy to determine whether the people you come into contact with are one or the other kind of person.

The Power of Positive Thinking and Belief

Have you noticed that those who dwell on their ailments are always ill? Those who speak about prosperity are prosperous. Those who talk about how wonderful life is are happy. And people who constantly talk about their cats… well, that’s a different story. The point is that your thoughts cumulatively provide a general blueprint of directives for how you react to everything in your life. Whatever you habitually think about or focus on the most will appear in your life. So, whatever you do, don’t focus on getting hit by a train. That’s not going to end well. The following story is a great example of how what you think is what you get and how your beliefs write the story of your life.

My Eddie Murphy Story: A Prime Example of the Power of Positive Thinking and Belief

One Saturday night in 1980, I was performing at East Side Comedy Club on Long Island. I was fairly new in the comedy arena, and this was my first weekend appearance at a premier comedy club. To say that I was a bit nervous would be an understatement.

Sharing the marquee with me was a young comic by the name of Eddie Murphy. Yes, the Eddie Murphy. I knew Eddie pretty well back in the day. We performed at a lot of comedy clubs, one-night gigs together at bars, dance clubs, and restaurants in the tri-state area. Even though I was 13 years his senior, I knew from the moment that I met Eddie that there was something special about him. He always stood out from everyone else. Besides being brilliantly funny and having a great stage presence, he had an air of confidence on and off stage. That was unusual for someone barely 18 years of age.

After the first show, Eddie and I were in the green room talking about what we wanted to do with our lives. At the time, I was an English teacher during the day and a stand-up comedian at night (although sometimes I had difficulty distinguishing between the two). I told him my dream was to break into the comedy business in a big way. Then Eddie said something to me that I will never forget.

He stood up and looked directly at me and said, “Steve, I’m going to be to comedy what the Beatles are to music.”

Conviction and Utter Certainty

He didn’t say, “I would like to be,” or “My dream is to be.” He said it as if it were a matter of fact. “I’m going to be.” This is a huge example of the power of positive thinking and belief. He wasn’t bragging, and it wasn’t his ego getting carried away. There was no conceit at all. His demeanor was calm and assertive. He simply made a statement that came from his heart. He said it with such conviction and utter certainty that I had no choice but to believe him. It was as if he had a crystal ball and saw his life unfold before him.

Most people view Eddie Murphy’s success at face value and think he became a big star simply because he was talented. Others think it was a matter of luck that Eddie was in the right place at the right time. Personally, I believe there was a lot more to Eddie Murphy’s success than just talent and luck. In my view, the most powerful force at work in Eddie Murphy’s rise to fame was the power of positive thinking and the intense belief he had in himself.

I’m sure you’ll agree that there are many extraordinarily talented people in all walks of life who never achieve the level of success they desire and/or deserve. You probably know a few personally. Have you ever wondered why? They seem to have what it takes to succeed, but somehow, for whatever reason, they never get that lucky break.

Eddie Murphy’s Big Break

Back to Eddie Murphy. At that time in television history, the original cast of Saturday Night Live retired, and there was a search for a Black comedian or actor with improvisational skills to replace Garrett Morris. A comedian was quickly chosen, but the producers discovered that this person unfortunately had difficulty reading and writing. So, another, more urgent casting call was put out.

There were only a handful of Black comedians, and Eddie was one of them. Auditions were being held at The Comic Strip in Manhattan, and as the story goes, within minutes of Eddie stepping on the stage, the powers that be were convinced that he was going to be the newest prime-time player on SNL.

Now you can call Eddie Murphy’s rise to fame luck if you want to. But I believe we make our own luck. In other words, what you think is what you get. We manifest the things we desire in our lives with the power of our thoughts and emotions. If you are continuously creating positive thoughts and focusing your attention on the things you desire, if you take action with joy, passion, and enthusiasm, and believe without a doubt that it is just a matter of time before you achieve your desires, then more than likely that is exactly what will come to pass.

Take note: the key phrases to remember are “creating positive thoughts,” “attention,” “taking action with joy, passion, and enthusiasm,” and “believe without a doubt.” I know. It’s easier said than done. Well, guess what? Everything in life is easier said than done. The good news, however, is that it can be done.

The Law of Attraction in Action

Eddie Murphy is a prime example of “what you think is what you get.” I’m certain he achieved his level of success because he truly believed he was a star long before he became one. It was as if he had a crystal ball and saw how his life was going to unfold. It was just a matter of time before his determination to succeed would manifest itself in the physical world.

I witnessed firsthand how he carried himself on and off the stage. I had many heartfelt conversations with him. His focus on his craft was laser-sharp. His attitude was unfaltering. And his passion was second to none. He never drank alcohol or did drugs—never.

His high was the joy he received from being on stage and making people laugh. I believe that Eddie Murphy radiated so much positive energy and had such a powerful subconscious belief in himself that he attracted what we call lucky breaks into his life. It was The Law of Attraction in action! He just happened to have the talent and fortitude to take the appropriate action to seize opportunity when it knocked on his door.

What really separated Eddie Murphy from other talented comedians was that Eddie really, really wanted to be to comedy what the Beatles were to music. I mean, really! And he truly believed it was possible. When that combination of desire and belief comes together, it is unstoppable. Eddie always knew where he was headed before he got there. More importantly, there was a constant correlation between his intention, his thoughts, beliefs, the actions he took, and what was manifesting in his life.

Lessons to Take Away

If you truly want to succeed in business and in life, this is the mindset you need to have. Let’s break down the actionable lessons:

1. Visualize Your Success: Like Eddie Murphy, see your future success as a certainty, not just a possibility. Visualization can help reinforce your belief system and keep you focused on your goals.
2. Develop Positive Habits: Start your day with affirmations or gratitude exercises to set a positive tone. Surround yourself with people who inspire and uplift you.
3. Take Consistent Action: Belief alone is not enough. Take steps every day that align with your goals, no matter how small they might seem.
4. Embrace Challenges: Obstacles are inevitable. Use them as opportunities to grow and refine your strategies.
5. Stay Persistent: Like Eddie, let your passion and dedication fuel you, even when things get tough.

Eddie Murphy’s story is not just about comedy or fame; it’s a testament to the power of belief, determination, and positive thinking. His journey from a young, confident comedian to an international superstar is proof that when you align your thoughts, emotions, and actions, you can achieve extraordinary success.

So, what’s your dream? Are you ready to believe it so you can achieve it? The power is in your hands.

About the Author: Steve Rizzo is the Mindset Adjuster. You can’t attend one of his keynote speeches, seminars, or read his books and leave with the same mindset. He’s a personal development expert, entertaining keynote speaker, corporate-comedian, and best-selling author. It’s no surprise that Steve is also a Hall of Fame Speaker Inductee, an honor bestowed upon fewer than 300 speakers worldwide since 1977.