The Art of Being Positive

An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity.

A pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.”

--Sir Winston Churchill

Talk happiness.

The world is sad enough without your woes. No path is wholly rough; look for the places that are smooth and clear, and speak of those, to rest the weary ear, of those so hurt by continuous strain, of human discontent and grief and pain.

Talk faith.

The world is better off without your uttered ignorance and morbid doubt. If you have faith in God, or Man, or self, say so. If not, push back upon the shelf of silence all your thoughts, till faith shall come; No one will grieve because our lips are dumb.

Talk health.

The dreary, never-changing tale of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please by harping on that minor chord--disease. Say you are well, or all is well with you, and God shall hear your words and make them true.

--Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Keep looking up; remember there is only mud under your feet. Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world. Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

God has two dwellings: one in Heaven and the other in a thankful heart.

--Izaak Walton (1593-1683)

When we know that everything has two sides, let us look at the bright side only.

--Mahatma Gandhi

We are often discontented and much dissatisfied. That our wish for recognition has not been gratified. We feel that we've been cheated in beauty, charm, and brains, and we dwell upon our "losses", forgetting all our "gains."

The qualities we think we lack make us miserable inside, as we brood on supposed "deficits" as seen by selfish pride.

Are you dissatisfied with yourself? "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart".

(1 Samuel 16:7).

We begin to harbor hatred and envy fills our heart. That we do not possess the things that make others "seem so smart."

And in our condemnation of the traits that we possess, we magnify our painful plight, sinking deeper in distress.

Oh, Lord, please do forgive us for vanity and pride. For desiring to please the eye of man and not You who sees inside!

Little do we realize how contented we would be. If we knew that we are beautiful when our hearts are touched by Thee!

--Author Unknown

The wise and true Scripture tells us, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)

And… “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).