THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

The majority of us plod through life like armchair generals, responding to events and situations as they slowly and methodically unfold before us.

We have no clue as to what is about to happen in the next few minutes, the next hour, the next day, week, month, or even year.

Unlike professional generals, we do not plan possible moves in the future by developing countless what-if scenario’s, we simply react to events as they happen. \

Perhaps the famous line in Forrest Gump; "Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you’re going to get" is just about as true as anything else is. But, it’s not what piece of chocolate life serves you; it’s how you adapt to that piece.

"Always anticipate the unexpected and have a contingency plan in mind to deal with it," one of my great mentors once advised me.

I have learned to apply the good advice of my mentor by adapting, improvising and overcoming obstacles as they are strewn in my path. I guess one reason is because I firmly believe that without inner peace, outer peace is completely impossible.

We can do anything we put our mind to; achieve any goal, overcome any difficulty, conquer any fear, so long as we make up our mind to do it.

You will learn that the quality of our life does not depend upon external development or material progress, but upon the inner development of peace and happiness. Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible.

Always think positive! The power of positive thinking is one of life’s greatest assets. Think positive about everything you do. No chore is impossible so long as you tell yourself, "I can do it," and prepare your mind for action.

Apply positive thinking, not only to events, but also to people you meet. Do not think of them in a negative way, think of them as adding value to your life. Learn from their mistakes as well as their achievements. Teach yourself not to be like them, but to be the person you want and to be.

Never place yourself above others because we are all wonderful creations, as teammates in a battle for inner peace. This may be hard to do at times because so many people think in the negative and unknowingly infect you with their negative attitudes.

Do not arrogantly display your material possessions as a means of proving your success. Because success, in reality, is not what you own but what you are. You cannot take your possessions with you into the spiritual realm, but you can - take yourself. For when you have obtained pure inner peace, you have no need of material possessions.

We are all endowed with the gift of original thinking, therefore, always apply it in a positive, productive and uplifting manner. Never forget that you have the power to move mountains, even if you have to start with one shovel full at a time.

A very wise person once told me that no matter what has happened in your past, each morning when you arise from your slumber, you have an opportunity to start life all over again. Yesterday is gone forever and you cannot change it no matter how much you would like to. Tomorrow depends on what you do today for it is yet to come and, like a sculptor, you have the opportunity to shape tomorrow into whatever you want it to be.

You can be a slave to the events of the past, or you can cast off the chains of yesterday and boldly shout out, "Today, I will seek inner peace and I will become a take-charge person, for am the true master of my destiny!"