“...but the intellectuals are wrong to
be pessimistic, not just because the facts don’t warrant it, but also because
pessimism, like optimism, is self-fulfilling.” ~Richard Koch
What a great
quote! I found it on this interesting site: http://www.richardkoch.net/2013/11/12/optimism-is-virtuous/
Optimism counts. You are not happy because certain circumstances
are pleasing to you; the circumstances are pleasing because you are happy. Really
let the significance of this truth sink into your mind. Each of us possesses
the god-like power to shape our circumstances to our own liking just by the way
we think...about ANYTHING in our lives. Isn’t that an amazing, powerful
concept?
I only heard this theory for the first time several months ago
when I began reading an old classic called: As A Man Thinketh by James
Allen. (You can pretty much download this book from anywhere for free these
days.) The concept that you can change your life by the way you control your
thoughts was, back then, a completely revolutionary notion for me. Suddenly, I
began to notice how my thoughts were flying around indiscriminately and how
many of them were old and worn-out thoughts, angry, resentful thoughts, like
watching an old movie you don’t like over and over again; so many thoughts of
the past and negative in nature. I began to realize how I had influenced myself
into a life where I was not overly happy and with a body infested with disease.
I began to take RESPONSIBILITY for how my life had progressed and suddenly
another great truth became apparent. If I was responsible then I had CONTROL. THAT
is a great feeling of freedom and power!
The most poignant and damaging story of my life was in March
of 1991. I was about 18 weeks pregnant at the time and had just learned that
the baby I carried was dead. It happened during a medical procedure I had been
encouraged to undertake and had not wanted. Doctor error was involved.
Almost needless to say, I was devastated. After the induced
abortion at the hospital and the drugs wore off, I was angry. LIVID in fact. My
emotional support team was non-existent and I still was the mother of 3 young
children. Grieving for my loss became all-consuming and silent. Within less
than 3 years, I developed a disk problem in my neck that required surgery and
seven years later was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, something I had never heard
of and for which I continue to take medications today. As recently as 2011, I
was diagnosed with Spinal Stenosis which may quite possibly be related to
another similarly devastating incident in my life with which I lacked the
proper coping mechanisms.
Of course, this painful incident led to plenty of other stress
and discontent in my marriage and the family as a whole. Looking back on it, it
is easy to see how it all evolved and why it got out of control. I was also
unsuccessful in becoming pregnant again. It was a real “catch 22” situation
where I was angry and resentful about not being pregnant and not being able to
get pregnant because my anger kept me apart from my husband!
If I were to go back in time to 1991, I would not go back
without the knowledge from the books I have read in the past two years!
Because I have read and listened to so much about
self-development and how the mind works and learned about my inherent
CONNECTION to “That Which Is”, I now understand that the life lesson that I
experienced had a purpose. I can
certainly speculate as to what that purpose may be but that’s not necessary. What
IS important is that I know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that there WAS a
purpose. I also know, from studying the Laws, that for every perceived “bad”
thing, there is an equal and opposite “good” thing on the other side. That law
is called the Law of Polarity.
Happiness can be had by making a conscious decision to be
happy. Sometimes it takes great focus on one specific thought. It helps to have
a dream and goals to get there. It is critical to forgive (to let go of) the
past in order to move forward. And if you can pay attention to the thoughts
that cross your mind, grab one that is happy and hold it close!
Stay Optimistic!
Cindy Hurd
4 comments:
Great post! I've also found optimistic to be a great way to shape events and bend them to your adventage, Seems a bit forced at first, but eventualy it becomes natural, then contegious. Everyone wins!
Thank you for your comment, Anonymous! ..and your encouragement! As you may have noticed, you are the first person to post a comment on my newly resurrected blog...I certainly appreciate your interest! And I agree with your observation on Optimism...still waiting for the contagion to take place in my house! ;-)
I agree, I think the motto "everything happens for a reason" resonates with so many people because it helps us cope with the negative events in our lives.
Exactly right, Tristany. And here's a concept that may sound very foreign...there are no circumstances/events that are negative or positive. They just ARE. It is OUR thinking about any particular situation that makes it positive or negative. This is a difficult concept to fathom because we can all agree, for example, that natural disasters are 'bad' in our opinion. But if you give it a good hard look, there are positive views even to a situation such as that. It takes some focused thinking to come to the conclusion that, in fact, things just are the way they are and it's just how we interpret these 'things' that make them negative or positive.
Post a Comment