Positive life a product of positive mind

O ur hammock was swinging at a gentle pace, as my daughter and I lay under the brilliant blue sky. In quiet gratitude, as I was leafing through the pages of the morning newspaper, I recalled a story I once heard about a businessman. One particular afternoon, the businessman was working from his home office doing a report. But every few minutes, his active 5-year-old son would disrupt his train of thought. After several interruptions, the father picked up the newspaper. He looked at it, and it had a map of the world on one of the pages.

Then, he had an idea. Since his son liked to make puzzles, the father took the map, ripped it into a few pieces and suggested to his son to put the map together.

Happily, the boy agreed. The father thought this little project would keep the young boy occupied. However, before the father realized it, in five minutes, the boy was finished. In sheer puzzlement and amazed at the speed in which the son completed the project, the man pointed to the newspaper and asked his son, “How did you finish the picture so quickly?”

Without hesitation, the boy answered, “Well, dad, there was a portrait of a man on the other side of the paper. So I just turned it over and put the man together.”

Then, the boy continued, “When I got the man right, the world was right.”

How do you see yourself? For like this story… How you see yourself is how you see the world.

So many streams flow into the human mind. We have to constantly be on guard as to what we think about each day. Yet, just as two puppies can play tug of war with their stuffed toy, pulling to and fro, self-defeating thoughts can tug back and forth in our minds dominating our point of view and next dictating our actions.

Our mindset can determine our self-image, behavior and achievements. Our outlook may decide the magnitude of our hopes and dreams. And our thoughts often influence our fortitude when we are confronted with challenges.

Today, make the decision to leave behind any negative thoughts. Positive mind … positive feelings… positive life!

The Bible offers us this great truth:

• “…Whatsoever things are true,

• whatsoever things are honest,

• whatsoever things are just,

• whatsoever things are pure,

• whatsoever things are lovely,

• whatsoever things are of good report;

If there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Therefore, right where you are now, appreciate and value each aspect of your life.

Eliminate poisonous, selfdefeating, debilitating thoughts from your mind. Then, reflect upon your personal gratitude. “Let go and let God,” as a reader wrote to me and suggested. And choose to not waste another second being upset, frustrated or bitter. A while back, I read about the great artist Leonardo da Vinci. Once, he was working on a painting and permitted a group of children to watch him. Accidentally, one child knocked over his picture. Da Vinci was so angry he could not continue to create. Though he attempted, he could not paint with that resentment in his heart.

Da Vinci’s anger stifled his creativity. And, moreover, it can be the same way with us. When we are full of bitterness or anxiety, it can hold us back for the good things that are in store for our future. Every minute spent upset is 60 seconds of happiness wasted. Hence, let the petty annoyances go. By rehashing the little frustrations, they can grow into big frustrations and as a result, discourage us. Similar to a familiar phone number that we dial often, if we keep mulling over how unfair situations have been, then dis- couragement, like that phone number, will soon become second-nature.

Choose not to live negative or dissatisfied.

Let go of past hurts and disappointments to make room for all the good things you want to transpire in your life.

Cherish your health. Eat wholesome foods. Exercise often (checking first with your doctor) and get enough sleep. Love much. Be generous with your affection, love and praise.

Awhile ago, I saw a sign in a store window that read, “Only love matters.” So let us be grateful for those nearest and dearest to us and let’s express over and over again how much we love and appreciate them. Laugh often. It’s one of the happiest activities known to us and a life enhancer. Smile. And if you see a person without a smile, give them yours.

Activity and sadness are incompatible, so keep busy; start a new project, take a class, try gardening or crafts and don’t let anything keep you from being a great influence in the lives of your fellow human beings. You may have some things that have gone wrong. Yet, conversely, you do have a lot more things that are right in your life. So look beyond life’s challenges and reach out and help another. For happiness is found in giving.

You are the voice who can offer to someone a life-altering prayer or an optimistic word of encouragement. You are the hands with which God can use to bless another. You’re the feet who can walk with people and help them through difficult times. Yours are the positive thoughts that can wish others well. Yours is the beautiful smile that can bring a person joy and comfort. And yours is the understanding ear who can listen and give kind reassurance and hope for someone’s future.

William Shakespeare once wrote, “How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

Today, the world needs your light to shine brightly to make it a better place. Therefore, ask God to provide you with a way for His light to shine through you. Soon, an unexpected opportunity will arise. New doors are going to open for you which will take you to a better place of blessings.

So forge ahead with hope in your heart. And, one step at a time, by acts of helpfulness, kindness, and as you give to others, your world will be right!

Catherine Galasso-Vigorito is a syndicated faith columnist. Her columns run in The Call and The Times every Saturday.