IPFS
CONNECTING THE DOTS
Frosty Wooldridge
More About: InspirationChange your life with P.A.C.E.
“How you
doin’ Jack (or Jill)?” I asked a recreation-center
friend last week.
“Same
ole, same ole,” he said.
“Come on
man,” I said. “We’ve got ski season in
full swing. That’s got to put a spring in
your step.”
“Probably
so,” he said. “But I need something new
to fire me up.”
He begged
the question: why do some people find great joy in living while others find
endless labor in their lives?
I think
many beleaguered people pick up “leftover thinking” much like they eat
“leftover” vittles from Thanksgiving.
While it may taste all right, it doesn’t provide the vibrancy of the
initial meal.
President
Thomas Jefferson once said, “We’ve got a wolf by the ears. We can’t keep him
and we can’t let him go. Both options
remain dangerous.”
In this
fast-paced age, we may harbor “leftover thinking” such as “I’m not good enough” or “Am I enough?” or “I
don’t measure up to others.”
Some
great philosopher said, “We find two wolves fighting in our minds. The good wolf and the bad wolf.”
A student
asked, “Which one wins?”
The
teacher said, “The one you feed.”
Which
leads to the question: how to you change
your leftover thinking?
Remember
that form follows thoughts. What you
think determines how you feel. Thoughts
create ideas and attitudes. No matter
what your situation, you can choose to feed the wolf that will move you
forward.
It’s starts with the P.A.C.E.
Concept: Positive Attitude Changes Everything.
In order
to become a person who relishes daily living, you enjoy the choice to create a
“Positive” mindset. You may feed the
“animal” in your mind with your highest and best thoughts. You may be an introvert or an extrovert. By changing your thinking, you brighten and
enliven every cell in your body. By
changing your thoughts to positive energy, you create a positive outcome.
“How was
your weekend, dude?” a friend asked.
“Man, we danced, bicycled, played games and went to the movies,” you responded. “Can’t wait to see what happens next.”
See the
difference? The world or friends or even
enemies may not change, but you change in how you handle and deal with
them. Another philosopher noted that the
winds may shift on the ocean, but it’s how you set your sails that determines
your destination.
To
further your feeding the “good” wolf, you may engage the enlightened “Attitude”
mindset. If it’s a rainy day, you may
dance to a sunny environment by appreciating that rains bring green grass and
flowers. You get to release what doesn’t
work. You enjoy a choice of “atmosphere”
for your day.
On a rainy
day, you might dig into your favorite book, an old movie or Skype a dear
friend. Feed the good “attitude” wolf
inside your mind. The “sad” wolf lopes
away.
Third on
the list of the “good” wolf comes your choice of “Changes” mindset. By changing your thinking you change your
outcome. It takes some work, however, in
time, you re-groove your mindset into happy thoughts that bring happy enzymes
to your cells, which translate into every aspect of your body.
Let life
know you love living by making choices that benefit you at any given moment.
Finally,
your first three options create the “Everything” mindset transformation. One old friend of mine said it this way, “S +
R= O”. In other words, “Situation” plus
your “Response” equals Outcome. That simple
equation changes everything!
With
these four aspects of the P.A.C.E. Concept, you may handle any drama, any world
condition, any family situation, every challenge and daily living.
Finally, share
a feeling of expressed gratitude daily in your meditation, prayer or quiet
moments. You may be a humanist,
spiritual person or very religious.
Gratitude works in your mind to comfort your spirit. Appreciate the gratitude within you, in front
of you, in back of you, to the left of you, to the right of you, below you and
above you.
“What’s
happenin’ dude (dudette)?” a friend
asked.
“I’m
feeling great!” you respond.
Life is
good!
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