Weekly Thought – November 7, 2017
Fred intensely considered his direction, reassessing at regular intervals. He knew revectoring was a critical element in successful living… just a degree off can end up as miles off course eventually. He asked himself questions to ascertain his footing.
Thinking About Healthy Living
1) What triggers positive self-talk and what triggers the negative? Self-talk is a discipline. While positive is helpful, the negative is seldom constructive. My friend Zig Ziglar says you must get rid of “stinkin’ thinkin’.” Self-deprecation can be a formula for comedy routines, but in ordinary life it generally is hurtful. Strangely, positive daydreaming can be helpful by preparing you for better situations as long as it isn’t sheer fantasy. I believe in understanding my gifts and reinforcing the way I use them. We all have messages from early years which are not helpful, but we need to look at them realistically, distill any truth, and discard the rest quickly. I am convinced we choose to live in a positive or negative mood. I know we have genetic predispositions, but we can discipline ourselves to live in a mood which is productive. And, as I like to remind myself (and others)… it is critical to understand my constructive strengths and my destructive weaknesses.
2) What do I really care about in life? Viktor Frankl, after coming out of the concentration camp put together his notes into his signature work on Logotherapy titled “Man’s Search for Meaning.” He wisely pointed out that three other theories of psychiatry were simply roads to meaning rather being the destination of meaning. The three other were: sex, pleasure, and power. Frankl points out that people’s real search is for meaning. This can be defined broadly. Most people I know would like to make a difference and to know that their life counted for something. For Christians, we have a definition that is based on Scripture. I believe that is the only authentic and truly satisfactory source. So, what I care about most is maximizing my gifts and being the man I was born to be which encompasses being a husband, father, friend, and colleague of integrity and honor.
3) What is my genuine sustained passion? To find your sustained passion I think you have to check your brain and see how often you think about a subject. What do you find yourself coming back to? What books do you gravitate toward? Who do you seek out to discuss the topic? If it is a passion, you will be thinking constructively and anticipating progress toward your objective. You will find you include it often in conversations with family and friends. When our children were teenagers Mary Alice and I could tell someone special was on their mind long before they disclosed it because their name popped up in conversations more than they recognized. They were always surprised when we weren’t surprised at the new interest. Our minds and hearts are closely linked.
This week think about: 1) How often do I check my direction to make sure I am on track? 2) Who helps me monitor my progress? 3) What do I love to think about?
Words of Wisdom: “It is critical to understand my constructive strengths and destructive weaknesses.”
Wisdom from the Word: “From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design?” (Isaiah 14:40 NET Bible)