One of the sages of the ages, King Solomon, shared a key insight on how we must live in order to please God and to advance toward our various potentials. It involves our customary state of mind, our daily mindset, i.e., how we view the world, ourselves and others. Concerning the connection of thoughts to destiny, Solomon wisely suggests “for as he [every person] thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7)
In an essay entitled, “Positive Thinking is Not Fast Food,”
Denise Lammi penned the following:
Fast food exists
because we naturally look for shortcuts. We even look for shortcuts when it
comes to our success and happiness. So,
shortcuts to success and happiness have been packaged and repackaged, over
and over again, creating a multi-billion-dollar industry. Positive thinking is the most popular of
these products.
Positive thinking DOES facilitate success and happiness. It CAN create opportunities or outcomes that may not have happened otherwise. How does positive thinking facilitate success and happiness? How can it improve our circumstances? Why do negative thoughts produce negative results? Thoughts can impact our circumstances because a thought (positive or negative) creates an idea and our subconscious stores the idea. The subconscious then causes the conscious mind to notice information related to that idea. Therefore, positive thoughts cause us to notice opportunities to pursue our goals. Negative thoughts cause us to notice problems that can sabotage our success and happiness. Unfortunately, many of us may not be willing to put in the required time and effort to obtain the benefits of positive thinking. Instead, we look for, and we buy, shortcuts. Often, our hunger for instant success and happiness is so great that we consume “positive thinking fast food” products even if the ingredients are completely unsubstantiated or implausible. We’re in a hurry; we’re hungry for results. The main ingredient missing in many positive thinking fast food products is effort. Unfortunately, even when “effort” is included as an ingredient, we may pay more attention to the packaging and product distractions, thereby wasting our efforts on the filler-stuff. This is because the filler-stuff is much easier (and more fun) than the most essential ingredient, effort. Effort involves taking personal responsibility for making things happen and taking on an active role. For example, the currently popular “law of attraction” principle appeals to the lazy quality in many of us because it glosses over something really important, which is simply this: YOU have to take responsibility to look for opportunities and YOU must take action. Instead, proponents of the “law of attraction” tell us to focus on desiring, asking and feeling, and to rely on abstract forces to do the work for us. There is very little mention of “doing.” Accordingly, it is more likely, than not, that anyone that has achieved their goals while applying the principles of the “law of attraction” has been successful because they have also made a major commitment to “doing.” My point is that thinking, wanting and visualizing positive things is necessary – but it is not enough. YOU have to take an active role. YOU have to get out of bed in the morning. YOU have to get out of the house. YOU have to look for opportunities. YOU have to be open to the opportunities that YOU see. YOU have to have the courage to act. YOU have to do the work that is required. YOU have to do your best. In other words, if you really want to benefit from positive thinking, there are NO FAST FOOD SHORTCUTS. Dreaming about the delicious things you want to eat is great, but you have to shop for the ingredients and then you have to start cooking! Positive thinking is just one of the foods that will promote success and fulfillment. Thank you, Ms. Lammi, for additional insight into the reasons we must accentuate and act on the positive. Both negativity and passivity will damage and delay us because both are undeniable dream-killers, veritable murderers of the future that our God has foreseen and ordained for us. My friend, strive to consistently think, speak and act positively – particularly pertaining to God’s Word. |
Sisters and brothers,
be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO
MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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