How's Your Thinking?

Yesterday afternoon I went to Massage Envy for my monthly massage, a practice I began a few months ago. I was with a new therapist who was recommended to me by a friend and as I asked her questions about her background, she revealed that she was from out of town and moved here about five years ago.

When I asked her how she liked Toledo, she said, "I love Toledo. They've got an awesome museum, a fantastic zoo. It's easy to get around. The people are friendly. There are lots of choices for schools. It's a great place!"

Wow! Was that ever refreshing to hear. I echo her comments as I, too, love living in this area. However, it seems that whenever I open up our newspaper or turn on the TV, I hear about how bad Toledo is. I also hear this from many that I know. They may complain about the cold in the winter and then complain that it's too hot in the summer. Or it might be that it is so grey in the winter, then it too bright in the summer or any number of other things.

I was reminded of a story I heard in which a guy pulls up at a gas station heading into town. He asks the attendant, "Are the people friendly in the town up ahead? I'm moving there from out of town."

The attendant replied, "What were the people like in your old home town?"

"They were the most unfriendly people you've ever seen. They were downright mean."

"Well, I'm afraid the people in this town are the same way."

About an hour later another car pulled up, "Are the people friendly in the town up ahead? I'm moving there from out of town."

"What were the people like in your old home town?"

"They were great people, very friendly and welcoming."

"That's exactly the type of people who live here as well!"

So how's you're thinking?

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Positive Thinking

I am a pretty positive person...at least I think I am. Before I became a Christian, I loved positive thinking seminars. You know, the conferences where speakers would get you fired up to go out and conquer the world.

I know many Christians who look down upon positive thinking. They think that is for those who don't know God and that it is all fake. They think it is worthless to attend one of these events. I believe that is short sighted. Positive thinking alone will not take care of anything by itself, but it will help you in almost every case...and it certainly is more productive than negative thinking!

Zig Ziglar agrees as he writes:

Just what can positive thinking do? To be candid, some people have given positive thinking a bad name. I can't stand to hear some gung-ho individual say that with positive thinking you can just do "anything." If you think about that one for a moment, you recognize the absurdity of it. As a ridiculous example, I'm a positive thinker, but I could never slam-dunk a basketball or perform major surgery - or even minor surgery - on anyone and expect that person to survive. Nate Newton, the 300-plus pound lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, is positive, optimistic and outgoing but he'd be a complete failure as a jockey or a ballet dancer.

It's safe to say that positive thinking won't let you do "anything." However, it is even safer to say that positive thinking will let you do "everything" better than negative thinking will. Positive thinking will let you use the ability which you have, and that is awesome. It works this way. You can walk into a dark room, flip on the switch and immediately the room is lighted. Flipping the switch did not generate the electricity; it released the electricity which had been stored. Positive thinking works that way - it releases the abilities which you have.

The student who hasn't studied and prepared for the test won't be helped by "thinking positively." However, positive thinking will help the student who has studied and prepared by "releasing" the stored knowledge when the questions are asked. To express it in a different way, knowledge breeds confidence; confidence breeds enthusiasm; and enthusiasm is an important key to being and doing more with your life.

Buy the positive approach to life and I will SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4:8