THINK POSITIVE

Confession: I watch American Idol from time to time. I enjoy watching Simon’s critical perspective on the performer who indeed is, the “Idol-Want-To-Be”.

Simon’s perspective is rarely predictable. In spite of Simon, I have been thinking about the importance of having a positive perspective. Our culture today is predictably filled with whiners, nay-sayers and neg-aholics. I’ll admit it, at times I can easily become critical. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He’s so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and must have thought, "He’s so big I can’t miss." Two shoe salesmen were sent to Africa. One sent a telegram home that said: “Get me home, nobody here wears shoes.” The other salesman’s telegram said: “I’m going to be here a long time. Send me all of the shoes you can, nobody here wears shoes.” After hundreds of failed experiments Thomas Edison reportedly told a lending institution, “I am not a failure, I am merely an expert on what does not work.” Again, perspective!

In his later years Paul wrote, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable; things that are excellent and worthwhile. Put into practice all you learned and received from me and, do what you have seen me do….this one thing I know, I have learned the secret of living in every situation…I face (endure, overcome, vanquish) every situation, whether well-fed or hungry because I know I can do all things through Christ who give me all the strength and power I need (Phil. 4:8-12). Paul is so practical in his counsel on achieving a positive perspective. First, positivity begins in the mind (be aware of your thought life!). Second, positivity is nurtured when we do the things that we have been taught will bring success. And third, a positive attitude flows down from the mind to our behavior to our hearts. Positivity occurs because a person has a heartfelt faith in God in spite of what is going on around them. Positivity involves our minds, our behavior and our emotions--positivity stirs up a “can do” attitude in each of us.