FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--The Power of Positive Thinking

Yesterday, someone left a photocopied article in my door about a woman whose husband lost his job. At first she was bitter, depressed, and confused. After months of looking for another job and turning away from God, she ran across an old, dusty book in her mother's attic. It was entitled, The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. This book taught her that positive thinking is always a choice. Not only that, but once the choice is made to think optimistically, you are endowed with power to make a difference in your own life, as well as the lives of others.

The formula she found in Peale's book applies to any situation. . . any trial we might face in life:

1. Take an inventory of the many things for which you have to be thankful.
2. Live one day at a time. Don't waste today by dreading what might happen.
3. Choose to have a good day. you might not be able to keep bad things from happening, but you can choose how you respond to them.
4. Just before going to sleep and right after waking up, think about something good.
5. Take the time to appreciate your accomplishments. You have set goals and worked hard to attain them, so enjoy them.
6. Accept and internalize compliments from others.

I would like to also emphasize the importance of writing down the blessings you receive and the lessons you learn from your trials. I know I keep harping on this point, but unless you record these things, they will be forgotten. It has been such a help for me in difficult times, to look back over what I have written in the past and recall all the evidences of His love for me over the years.