Chapter 3: More Power to YOU!

My heart is heavy this morning. I am overwhelmed by the truth of our lives; that we are here on this earth for mere minutes and that time should be spent loving and living every minute for those that we love. We are here for one another. The news of Osama bin Laden's death was a shock to Pete and I, but once that wore off and we realized that this was quite the morale booster for America, it got me thinking about the next terrorist leader that will decide that Western Capitalists are the devil. My prayer would be that the world lay down their swords and celebrate the freedom that we are all given, not by our societies, but by God alone. AND this is NO WAY to start a Tuesday morning!!!
So I will move forward, Power Thinking my way through this glorious day!
But this did help me answer this next question: Imagine that!

What one thought do you believe limits you more than anything else? Do you BELIEVE you can change it?
The thought that there is good, but that it will always end badly. The thought that my scale tips mostly to the Yin in this life. That the other shoe is bound to drop at anytime. When good things, or even great things happen, there will always be an equally bad, or terrible thing that will happen next. That my blessings in this life will have to paid for in some painful and agonizing way. Yes, I HAVE to change this! I have been a firm believer of "Negative thinking = Positive results". Yes! I have had experience after experience of this becoming true. Now, this is most likely because as a professional negative thinker, I am always expecting the worst, so when positive things happen, I am always "surprised" and can trick myself into being "Happy" with the outcome. What I am striving for on this journey is a constant state of happy, not as an emotion, but as a belief and way of being that is with me always.

What are his (the enemies) greatest devices against you?

DOUBT, worry, and anxiety. Doubt that I can succeed as a mother, as a wife, as an employee, as a writer, as a friend, as a daughter, as a believer in God. Worry that terrible, horrible things are always afoot. Anxiety that if I don't worry and doubt everything in this life that I will be caught unaware and be made a fool.

I am (and you are) to make a list of positive things about a difficult person or situation in our lives right now.
This is challenging and rather personal, I believe the most difficult situation right now is the one we have been facing for 3 1/2 years. The raising our children with little to no money situation! I am going to do this fast since my positive thoughts only come in brief intervals:
1. The girls haven't had to be in daycare (besides our own!)
2. We have learned to live smarter, and spend wisely.
3. We have grown incredibly strong as a family, and more importantly, as a partnership.
4. I have been given opportunities to explore in running my own business and creating a unique position for myself as BSU.
5. Pete's schedule has allowed for both of us to work and still spend an ample amount of time with the girls.
6. The girls appear to be THRIVING!
7. We have created a life here in Boise and have remained employed despite the "economic downturn".
8. We still have our house.
9. I have fallen in love with writing all over again.
10. Our relationships with our families are strong, regardless of distance.
Well that was easy! Try it! I will read this daily as a reminder that there is good in all things. There are several positive things happening in our lives at this very moment, and I bet that has always been the case, I have just chosen to look at the dark side for far too long.
Something to mull over: I happen to live with an eternal optimist. I like to think that our dynamic works so well because Pete is always bright where I am dark. He is the Piglet to my Eeyore. We were chatting this morning about his optimism. He chalks it up to sports, saying, "You face so much adversity but there is always the chance to come back, until it is done." Isn't that the truth in our lives? We can always change it, we can always "come back" from wherever we are and whatever situation we have led ourselves into until it is done!
May God bless your week and your thoughts!