Achieve your potential with positive thinking

When your situation looks dark, or if you face adversity, that is not the time to recoil.

It was early on a Saturday afternoon, and a father and daughter were sitting on stools in the father’s restaurant. They were eat- ing lunch together, and the father noticed how tired and worn out his grown daughter looked.

Concerned, the father asked, “What’s the matter?” She seemed to have lost her zest for living.

The daughter gathered her thoughts and spoke, “It’s just been difficult for me, dad,” she sighed. “I’ve been through too many struggles. I can’t try anymore. I just want to give up,” she spoke shakily. Fear washed over the daughter, as she uttered, sadly, “I’m so discouraged, I don’t know where to turn.” She was tired of struggling all the time. She felt fearful, that she was a failure and at a disadvantage, with one problem followed by another.

Reaching to her across the counter, the father squeezed her hand. Then, he paused for a moment and gestured for her to come into the restaurant’s kitchen. Once there, the father got three pots out of the cupboard and filled the pots with water. He placed each pot on the stove and put the burner on high. Once the three pots of water began to boil, in the first pot he placed potatoes. In the second pot of boiling water the father put eggs. Next, in the third pot he dropped in a tea bag.

Shrugging her shoulders, the daughter watched. When all three ingredients had cooked for a few minutes; the father put the potato and the egg into separate bowls. Then, he removed the tea bag and poured the steaming, hot tea in a large cup.

“Dad, what are you doing?” the daughter questioned. There was a short silence.

Turning to her, the father declared, “These three items teach us something about facing challenging times.” He then explained that the potato, the egg and tea had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water. Yet, each one reacted differently. The daughter’s eyes lit up at the prospect of help for her despair.

So, the father continued, “The potato went into the hot water strong. But in boiling water it came out soft and weak. The hardboiled egg came out of the boiling water firm and unyielding.

However, the tea transformed the water into something new; good and beneficial.”

“My daughter,” the father comforted, “Which one will you be as you face the trials of life? How will you respond?” The daughter didn’t answer. With no hesitation, the father implored, “Will you be similar to the potato; fall apart and give up? Or will you grow hard like the egg?” Next, the father said, with a confident tone, “Perhaps, you’ll be like the tea, and turn your trials to triumph, into something of value?”

The dejected look on the daughter’s face was gone. In fact, her countenance was lit up with new resolution and hope. For this analogy helped the daughter understand what her father was trying to say. She learned something that day that she never forgot. When your situation looks dark, or if you face adversity and you don’t understand what’s happening, that is not the time to recoil. It’s not the time to quit. That is the time to persevere. Challenges can uncover great possibilities within you and can push you onward to attain goals you never thought were possible.

Don’t be stuck in a rut, letting the pressures of life weigh you down. You may be facing challenges that might seem permanent. But God does not want you to worry over things in this life. That is why the Bible says:

“Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

“He who is in you is greater than what can come against you.” (1 John 4:4).

“For God gave you a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and selfcontrol.” (2 Timothy 1:7).

“And so, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9).

You’re strong and capable of great things. Try this idea: Set some new goals. Jot them down, with a few sub-goals listed along the way. Get a calendar and write down an achievable date for each sub-goal that you’re hoping to achieve, so you’ll feel as though you’re working toward something important.

Have faith; for God is with you and you will make it through with the victory. There are amazing possibilities to come. Your life is still in front of you. Thus, always think positive. And all through the day, repeat uplifting, encouraging phrases to yourself to help improve your overall outlook. For you can achieve your full potential. So move ahead with positive, possibility thinking.

I recall how a dear friend of mine had some medical tests and the results were cause for concern. After he heard the adverse health news, he refused to give into worry. My friend never complained or recoiled in fear, thinking the worse. Rather, he prayed each day, followed the doctor’s recommendations and remained his same positive self, keeping his thoughts and words faith-filled and optimistic. He spent his free time encouraging and helping others, and he continued his volunteer work in the community. A few weeks later, when my friend returned to the doctor’s office for an examination, he was told that his new tests came back normal. The doctor said, “Whoever your angel is, keep him! And continue doing what you’re doing!” Overjoyed, my friend exclaimed with thankfulness, “What I do is pray to God every morning.”

Daily, take hold of the peace, joy and victory that God can provide. There’s no need to be anxious. “Call upon God… and He will deliver you.” (Psalm 50:15). Trust His capable hands. God looks on you with love and “He will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22).

Keep striving for you will prevail over your struggles. And like the caterpillar that has been transformed into a lovely graceful, butterfly soaring and fluttering from bud to blossom, your life can be renewed and will turn out to be even more beautiful than before. Therefore, let worry or despair drop away like an old cloak, and in its place, take on the shining mantle of your heavenly Father’s love.