Please Quit Blowing Out My Candle!

Years ago I read a remarkable book, You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative Thought, by Peter McWilliams. Fortunately I jotted down some of the more meaningful (for me) thoughts, and I'd like to share a few of them. I trust I am not trampling on copyright law by quoting these (Peter did some quoting himself):

"An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?" (Michel de Saint-Pierre). (I particularly like this one, as I have a friend who loves to blow out as many lights as he can find!).

"Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life" (Grenville Kleiser). Our thoughts create our reality - not instantly, necessarily, as in "Poof! There it is"--but eventually. Where we put our focus--our inner and outer vision--is the direction we tend to go. That's our desire, our intention. The way we get there--well, there are many methods.

"The epidemic of fear (a subset of negative thinking) is one of the most easily spread. Unlike any viral or bacterial illness, fear can be caught over the telephone, from reading newspapers, or from watching television."

"From a medical point of view, negative thinking suppresses the immune system, raises the blood pressure, and creates a general level of stress and fatigue in the body. In short, infections, cardiovascular irregularities, the degeneration of muscles, and the random growth of unwanted cells get more opportunity."

"There is no cure for birth and death save to enjoy the interval" (George Santayana).

"On no subject are our ideas more warped and pitiable than on death. Let children walk with nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of life and death, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star, and they will learn that death is stingless indeed, and as beautiful as life, and that the grave has no victory, for it never fights. All is divine harmony" (John Muir).

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy" (George Bernard Shaw).

And finally this gem: "Right now, in this moment, without moving from where you are, you can find ample evidence to prove your life is a miserable, depressing, terrible burden, or you can find evidence to prove your life is an abundant, joyful, exciting adventure."

I made a poster of this quote and have it where I am reminded to "Be the rainbow to the storms of life." What a good idea! How depressing to be constantly raining on everyone's parade. Let's be Rainbows for others, and not Black Clouds.