Thinking Makes It So

How many times have you told yourself you’re just having a bad day? In this post from the Winners Circle, Lou Tice challenges that kind of thinking and encourages us to look at things differently, more positively.

Here are some things that don’t exist: A bad day, a boring book, a demeaning job, and an ugly dress.

Now why do I say that there is no such thing as a bad day or an ugly dress? Shakespeare had this idea in mind when he said, “Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” You see, if the dress was truly ugly, every single person we asked would say, “Yes, that is ugly.” But what are the chances of that happening?

And if the day was truly bad, then no one could possibly be having a good day on that date, could they? And even if two people share the very same experience on the same day, one of them may call it bad and the other one may say, “Now wait a minute. There is another way to look at it.”

And that is exactly my point. There is always another way of looking at things. So, why in the world would you voluntarily choose a way that is negative, devaluing or that makes you feel badly? You have the ability to control your thoughts and your emotions.

The first step is believing that not only is it possible, but it is possible for you. And when you feel you can do it, then you try. And the more you try, the better you get at it. Negative feelings that once dominated you can be made to go away, and the time it takes you to banish them will grow shorter and shorter. Until one day you may surprise yourself by saying, “You know, I can not remember the last time I really felt angry or depressed!” I know you can do it!

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute

As with many things with me, I’m better at encouraging other people to think more positively about themselves and their world, than I am at encouraging myself — I believe it’s possible for others, so perhaps I should learn to accept that is is for me too. Reading this has reminded me of that; thanks Lou.

My natural inclination is to think negatively about myself. It’s something I try to work on, to improve on. And quite a lot of that has been worked out through the pages of this blog over recent months; and especially as a response to some of these Winners Circle postings. But I do have to constantly remind myself to view who I am more positively — after all, I am the man, warts and all, that God made, calls and loves.

I’m convinced that these daily emails from Lou Tice at the Winners Circle help me to be more the person that God wants me to be. If you think they may help you too, do please consider subscribing yourself, it won’t cost anything.