Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

You have probably heard that phrase before. As you know, it’s often associated with “Positive Thinking” or lack of it. Is it possible to walk through this life with a positive attitude? Even when things are not going well? You probably know people who do. Would others say that YOU are one of those people?

Make no mistake about it, there is deep concern on behalf of everyone at our real estate company for the pain, difficulty and struggle many experience as they walk through life. Our belief is that in order to be a positive force for others, Positive Thinking is always required. Please allow me to share some of that “core value” with you in this season’s issue of lnHouse.

In Dr. Norman Vincent Peale’s classic book, The Power of Positive Thinking, he teaches the cultivation of “peace of
mind”, not as an escape from the realities of life, but as a “power center” out of which comes driving energy for
constructive personal and social living.

It seems every time I turn on the news or look at social media, there seems to be a barrage of negativity. I have to look hard to find the “good news”. But as I walk around and live my life in practical terms, I see a great deal of love and positive energy from and among people. I’m not sure of the disconnect, it could be just me and my perceptions.
Nonetheless, I am reminded of the importance of staying positive as it relates to just about anything. Even in the midst of great tragedy, there is a different way to think. I wrote about this in the last issue of lnHouse, sharing with you Dr. Ike Reighard’s story from his book Treasures From The Dark.

Positive thinking is really just faith in action. When things are not going well, it is easy to develop a negative attitude. But in my experience, the fastest way to lift myself up when feeling down is to go help someone else who is feeling down. That is really tough to do without positive thinking. We all know how comforting it is when life has dealt us a bad blow and a friend or someone we love brings us their positive energy. How else can we be lifted up in times of tragedy or sorrow? Positive Thinking is contagious.

With practical techniques discovered in Dr. Peale’s book, it is not just possible, but likely to energize someones life.
Another way to describe Positive Thinking is that it gives yourself the initiative needed to carry out your ambitions and hopes.

Take a look at people you would say have “determination”. Determined people are Positive Thinkers. So we can say that Negative Thinkers lack determination. I’m not sure it is possible to be determined to succeed and not entirely possess Positive Thinking. I’ve never seen successful people who are negative. They are the opposite: they attract – the very definition of Positive.

With positive thinking I have learned how to:
Expect the best and get it.
Believe in yourself and in everything you do.
Develop the power to reach your goals.
Break the worry habit and achieve a relaxed life.
Improve your personal and professional relationships.
Assume control over your circumstances.
Be kind to yourself.

It teaches positive thinking not as a means to fame, riches or power, but as the practical application of faith to overcome defeat and accomplish worthwhile creative values in life. It teaches a hard, disciplinary way of life, but one which offers great joy to the person who achieves victory over himself and the difficult circumstances of the world.

In a past newsletter I wrote about how Words Matter. The words we speak have a direct and definite affect upon our thoughts. Thoughts create words, for words are the vehicles of ideas. But words also affect thoughts and help to condition if not to create attitudes. In fact, what often passes for thinking starts with talk.

The man who assumes success tends to already have success. My hope is that YOU will expect the best and get it.
William James, the famous psychologist, said “Our belief at the beginning of a doubtful undertaking is the one thing that insures the successful outcome of your venture”.

One thing that rises above most is our eagerness to get our children involved and hanging out with others who are good, noble, caring, “do the right things” kind of kids. Most parents have an instinct to realize when their kids are hanging out with the wrong crowd. There is little they would not do to get their child out of that environment. It is a universal truth that you will become who you hang out with. What amazes me are the adults that won’t apply this same rule to themselves. They engage in damaging behavior in WHO they watch, follow, and hang out with.

My belief is that we were put here to accomplish great things. We are capable of far more than we can imagine. Success starts between our ears: WHAT you think about and HOW you think about things. Oh yeah… my glass? It is running over!