My friend Tina and I had a long running conversation via email about being positive. Being one that doesn't shy away from controversial topics, books, movies - and wanting always to learn - I recently watched "The Secret" a movie based on the book by Rhonda Byrne. The majority of the content was self-serving to say the least, and chock full of new age philosophies to say the worst.
The movie did cause me to think on this verse from Proverbs 23:7 that says As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. I took this to mean that we play these mental tapes in our minds of who we are - and then we live it out - truth or lie, as a somewhat self-fulfilling prophecy.
There is something to be said for having a positive outlook. Negative people are such a downer. I also know how susceptible our feeble minds are to the power of suggestion, making either perspective contagious. I like to surround myself with optimistic, yet realistic people.
With that in mind, I have been trying to accentuate the positive in respect to my marriage, and how I view my husband. I have been trying intentionally to see the good things - and notice the bad things a little less. Having PMS this week made this task a bit more difficult. In the last 24 hours, I have found some things about Travis that were endearing to me. First, last night on our way home from the big extended family Christmas dinner, I put on the "country legends" station, because he enjoys it, and I heard him singing with Anne Murray to Shadows in the Moonlight. He has such a nice voice, so I enjoyed listening to him. Then, this morning, our handicapped neighbor called and woke us up asking if we could come help, because he broke a pipe and having had a stroke a few years ago, so he had only one good hand to control the water that was spewing everywhere. When I woke Travis, he threw on pants, and was out the door.
The more we focus on these kinds of things, the more we seem to notice them. I am not sure about the "Law of Attraction" but I have tried and proven in my own life that being positive seems contagious.
What a positive and encouraging post! Just what I needed to hear. Thanks my sweet friend. : )
ReplyDeleteI soooo agree. You can set your heart for or against someone. Then everything they do is eather all right or all wrong.
ReplyDeleteI agree too. Attitude is so huge. Often when I pray about relationship with someone difficult, God changes MY heart
ReplyDeleteI believe this to be true and it's challenging at times to be positive for a realist like me. I am not a downer, I am not pessimistic but I just call it like I see it. It's all in our perception.
ReplyDeleteI admit I have put a positive spin on our situation more times than I can count this year :) So there's hope, LOL! I believe 2008 will be prosperous :)
A note about what halfmoon girl said, I have found this to be true, in the past certain people were really getting on my nerves and it was hard to be around them but once I prayed my perception changed and over time they weren't bothering me anymore.
So true.
ReplyDeleteI don't think people who complain and are negative all the time realize how they bring everyone else down.
By the way I really like your "Blogging without obligation" thing - what - not an avatar - a picture, embedded thing, sign... nice addition whatever it is!
Happy New Year!