“Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate.”
–Norman Vincent Peale
The late minister and author Norman Vincent Peale wrote one of the most-read inspirational books of all time.
The Power of Positive Thinking (#ad) was an instant best-seller, and it’s still quite popular several decades after it was first published.
In a nutshell, the primary message from this powerful book is how one’s state of mind can direct and shape the reality of a person’s life.
While setbacks and misfortune strike us all at times, it’s the folks who always do their best to maintain a positive attitude towards life that end up being happy.
Some of the most cheerful people I have ever known experienced some of the most heart-breaking and disappointing losses throughout the course of their lifetimes.
On the other hand, some of the most miserable people I ever knew had enough money and earthly possessions to last several lifetimes.
It all boils down to this…
We all have struggles and trials in life. It’s how we react to the dark periods that dictate how much we’ll end up enjoying the good times.
I’m not preaching from a tall soapbox here. I’ve had my own struggles with negative thinking in the past, and I’ll probably have more going forward.
But I’ve learned to always strive to think positive and look for the silver lining in every situation, and for the most part, I believe I’ve succeeded.
Bottom line: Whatever you expect to get out of life is probably what you’re going to end up getting out of it. Whether good or bad, positive or negative, your expectations will likely end up becoming your reality.
Choose to be positive.
Choose to be inspired.
Choose to seek out the silver lining in every dark cloud that passes over your life.
Like me, you’ll probably never be a billionaire. But with the right attitude you can be happier than some of the richest people on Earth.
To finish up, here’s a fantastic inspirational video featuring comedian, actor and game show host Steve Harvey giving one of the most motivating and inspirational talks I have ever heard. Check it out…
Note: You can watch this video at full screen by clicking the little “square” icon in the lower-right corner of the video after it begins playing.