The Power of Positive Thinking

In this episode - The Power of Positive Thinking . . .

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale is a self-help book that explores the impact of optimism and positive thoughts on your life. Peale emphasizes the influence of one's thoughts on shaping experiences and achieving success. This small book has sold over 5 million copies since it was first published in 1952. I recently purchased a copy from our local Barnes & Noble and read it again because our lives were changing once more. Let me explain.

As 2023 draws to a close, I have taken it upon myself to reflect on what has influenced my thinking and my life. Like many, during these challenging times of war in Israel and Ukraine, with the proliferation of hate and violence, I am trying to regain the optimism that fueled me to become who I am today.

After moving to California in April 1985, I felt compelled to meet Dr. Norman Vincent Peale (see Dreamers). Why? Not because I had read his book but because the Title had a profound influence on my thinking and attitude. That year, my life dramatically changed; I moved to California to attend the Gemological Institute of America. In doing so, I decided my thinking had to change, so I enrolled in The Dale Carnegie Course for Public Speaking and Human Relations. This was the catalyst that started driving me into the self-help era that was prevalent at the time.

The self-help movement grew and diversified during the latter half of the 20th century. It was made possible by the amazing contributions of authors and speakers like Norman Vincent Peale, Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Robert Schuller, Louise Hay, and Stephen Covey. They offered valuable advice on many topics, such as positive thinking, motivation, success, relationships, health, and spirituality.

It was 1952 when Peale published his book that encourages readers to develop a positive mindset, which can help them overcome obstacles and achieve personal goals. According to Peale, it is crucial to believe in oneself, nurture faith, and use affirmations to reprogram your mind for success. By focusing on positive thoughts and visualizing desired outcomes, you can attract favorable circumstances and opportunities.

This book offers practical advice on techniques such as prayer, visualization, and affirmations to combat negativity and develop resilient, optimistic attitudes. Peale emphasizes the power of faith in achieving miracles and encourages readers to tap into their inner strength to overcome obstacles.

Additionally, Peale suggests surrounding oneself with positive influences, avoiding negative people and situations, and practicing gratitude to maintain a positive outlook. While rereading this book during the holidays, Chapter 6 - Stop Fuming & Fretting impacted me deeply. I had allowed myself to become consumed by anger, irritation, frustration, and worry, which can damage one's mental and physical health. In this chapter, he discusses how these negative emotions can lead to stress, anxiety, and even health issues if left unchecked.

Peale emphasizes the need to avoid fuming and fretting by adopting a more positive and constructive approach to handling challenging situations. He suggests several practical techniques to overcome these negative emotions:

Develop Self-Control: Acknowledge that everyone faces frustrations and irritations; Peale advises practicing self-control by consciously choosing not to dwell on these negative emotions.
Countering Negative Thoughts: He encourages replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations and constructive thinking. This involves consciously redirecting thoughts towards solutions and positive outcomes rather than dwelling on problems.
Use Physical Action: Physical activities or exercise can help dissipate frustration and stress. Redirecting energy towards constructive tasks will be beneficial.
Practice Relaxation Techniques: Peale recommends relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or prayer to calm the mind and release tension.
Seek Perspective: Putting situations into perspective and realizing that most problems are temporary and manageable helps reduce stress and worry.

Overall, The Power of Positive Thinking serves as a guide to transforming one's mindset, fostering optimism, and harnessing the power of positive thoughts to lead a fulfilling and successful life.

I’m Patrick Ball. Make it a great New Year, its your choice. See you in the next episode.

Mom Was Right

In this episode: Mom Was Right (Again!) . . . Remember that old saying, "Mom knows best?" Well, this week, it resonated profoundly. I vividly recall my mother's steadfast remedy for the common cold, which was ingrained in my 1960s childhood: "Rest in bed, drink plenty of fluids, and take aspirin to reduce pain and fever." . . . Or now that I think about it, this may have been a Bayer aspirin commercial–Simple . . . Fast-forward to the age of AI and endless medical information at our fingertips, and guess what? Not much has changed. Yet, somehow, this week, Lori and I were blindsided by a cold—the first in over five years. My incredulous "How could this be?" quickly morphed into a dawning realization. Our company's annual meeting, a melting pot of colleagues from Illinois, Texas, Vietnam, Colorado, Northern California, and the Central Valley, was a veritable petri dish of germs. And, oh, the germs found me! Getting sick, especially after a long str...

Whispers of Spring

In this episode, Whispers of Spring . . . Spring has a way of sneaking in when you’re not looking. One day, you’re shaking off the last chill of winter, and the next, you realize the light has shifted, stretching shadows just a little longer. It didn’t make a big fuss about it—no dramatic entrance, no trumpets—just a quiet unfolding, like an old dog settling into a sunny spot on the porch. Last week, Daylight Saving Time kicked in, which meant we all fumbled with our clocks, grumbled a bit, and then, like frogs taken aback by a warm rain, leapt forward into longer evenings. The sun now lingers, in no rush to set, hanging in the sky like a tossed coin that refuses to fall. With the extra daylight, we find ourselves drawn outside once again, migrating to the back patio like folks are drawn to a warm campfire. The lawn chairs are right where we left them, waiting like old friends. The air hums with wind chimes, their tuned cylinders catching the breeze and weaving together something that...

Special April Fools' Edition: Did You Fall For It?

In this episode: Special April Fools' Edition: Did You Fall For It? (And a Little Baseball Nonsense) Welcome, fellow baseball aficionados and purveyors of the peculiar, to a very special, dare we say unpredictable, issue of On the Fly! Today, the air is thick with . . . well, probably just regular air, but a specific mischievous something is buzzing around. Can you feel it? Does that tingling sensation make you double-check your shoelaces and suspiciously eye any unusual packages? Yes, dear readers, it’s April 1st! A day steeped in mystery, shrouded in playful deception, and frankly, a day where you shouldn't believe anything you read (except maybe this . . .maybe). But before we descend into a whirlwind of whimsical falsehoods (don’t worry, we’ll mostly keep it light!), let’s take a quick, slightly wobbly, historical flight through the origins of this most unreliable of holidays. Whispers from the annals suggest a few intriguing possibilities for why we dedicate this particula...

At 92–Don's Digital Daydream

Listen to the audio here. In a world of his own–lives, ole' Doctor Don, Not one world, but three, 'til the setting of the sun! There’s his Blog-World , so bright, with words all a-whirl, And Book-World , with stories of boy and girl! Then, Day-World , where legs didn't leap, didn't run, Just shuffled and creaked 'til each day is done. But his brain, oh, his mind, it’s zippy and keen, A most curious fellow that ever was seen! At ninety and two, with a twinkle so bright, He met Chatty and said, "What a strange delight!" This box with the answers, so quick and so bold, Of theology and stories, new truths to unfold!" "Integrity, relationships, where do they fit? This thing makes me wonder, bit by bit!" He ponders and pokes with laughter and a grin, "Til POOF! he has gone to a world from within! A world made of words, a fantastical place, Where limits of the body, left not a trace! He Soares, and he zooms, with a thought and a rhyme, Trans...

On The Fly

Search This Blog