Things Are Good Because I Say They Are

 by: Skye Thomas

The subject of positive self talk regarding our goals and dreams reminds me of the childhood story, The Velveteen Rabbit. The boy loves the toy so much that a magic fairy comes and turns the toy bunny into a real rabbit. She tells the bunny it has been loved so much that it has earned the right to be real.

Wouldn’t it be great if all we had to do was to love our dreams and fantasies until a magic fairy came, and poof, our dreams were real? How many of us would forget to love our dreams enough? Would they be lost under the bed like some long ago childhood toy? What if it really was that simple?

Years ago, I was a single mom with two small children. Both were still in diapers. We were on welfare and getting help with housing assistance. I had $335 each month to support a family of three. There was no husband, no boyfriend, no child support and no reason to believe any of those things were every coming near me. My friends were all happily married and most did not even have children yet. I was struggling to come up with money to buy diapers and they were buying boats and campers and going on long vacations. I was very frightened and alone. I had no family around to help me out of my situation and my childhood friends were all too busy with their new lives to be of much help to me. They all had careers and their families and new in-laws to hang out with. They loved me, but often forgot to even check on my kids and me.

I spent a lot of time alone while my babies were sleeping or playing together. I realized how sad my children’s lives would be. They were being raised by a sad lonely depressed welfare mom. I could not do that to them. I could not afford to get counseling, so I went to the library to research “happiness.” I began to read everything I could get my hands on. I did not want my kids to grow up secluded, scared, and depressed like me. My research lead me to books on religion, romance, parenting, spirituality, everything.

After a few months, I realized I was reading the same message over and over again. It did not matter what topic I was reading, it always came down to attitude. What I believe is what I will see. What I see is what I live. That is when I wrote my life’s mantra: Things are good, because I say they are.

I wrote it on a half sized sheet of my nicest pink paper with my favorite purple pen and taped it to my bathroom mirror. I saw it many times each day. Every time I brushed my teeth it was there. “Things are good, because I say they are.” Every time I washed my hands, “Things are good, because I say they are.” Every time I put on makeup or brushed my hair, “Things are good, because I say they are.” It began to work it’s magic on me.

I decided to fake it and act like I was happy. I made a rule… from then on, I would only tell people the good things in my life. I would no longer tell them how many bill collectors called that day or that my three year old was probably never going to be potty trained. I was not in denial. I simply wanted to practice this positive attitude stuff I had read so much about. Would it really change my life? I doubted it, but I was going to at least give it an honest try.

Whenever someone asked me “How are things going?” I would remember my little statement and tell them, “Things are good!” I would make myself find positive stories about my life to tell them. I owe my children a great debt of gratitude for providing me with something to smile at every day of their lives. Never has a day gone by since they were born have they not at the very minimum made me smile if not fully laugh out loud.

The only positive things I had to tell were funny stories about my two kids. People may have gotten tired of always hearing about my babies, but that was all I had for examples. “Things are good! My son is finally potty trained!” “Things are good! My daughter did the funniest little dance the other day! It went something like this…” They all thought I was this good little mom who was obsessed with her kids. The truth is, I had nothing positive to say about myself.

I cannot tell you when the exact moment was, but about a year later, I realized that I was not faking it anymore. Things really were good. I had proven the theory “fake it until it’s real.” I had gone back to work and was learning a new career. My kids were in a wonderful safe environment while I was at work. They loved their daycare center. My career was worth talking about. I joined a local gym and started working out every day. My kids loved the playroom there and were thrilled with going straight from daycare to the playroom at the gym. They hadn’t suffered because I had taken care of my own happiness.

We had a lot less time together during the week, but everyone was very happy. Our weekends became our time for adventures. I started dating again. I had fixed my credit to the point that I was able to buy a new car without a cosigner. When people asked me, “How’s it going?” I actually had something besides my kids to talk about. Things WERE good, because I SAID they were. That magic fairy must have made it real when I wasn’t looking.

This article was adapted from a segment of Beyond the Inner-Critic by Skye Thomas, copyright 2003.

About The Author

Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to spirituality, motivation, and inspiration in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, motivation, and parenting. More of her articles can be found at www.tomorrowsedge.net as well as free previews of her books.

skye@tomorrowsedge.net

Source: High Quality Article Database – 365Articles.com

The Grocery Bag Analogy
Have you noticed how a plastic grocery bag acts by the side of the road? The wind from passing cars tosses it into the air according to the direction the car is traveling. The bag has no control of its movements; it travels by the external force of the air currents. It ends up where the wind determines. We need not be subject to the winds of external forces. We have the freedom to choose our destinations. Don’t we?

Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. We often allow ourselves to be swept along by life, rather than proactively choosing our paths. We need to passionately pursue what we want.

Early in our lives, we develop lofty dreams. Thoreau calls them “castles in the air.” We see ourselves becoming physicians, lawyers, famous authors, and we have many other beautiful dreams regarding how our lives will turn out.

But, as life kicks us around a bit, we lower our expectations, and begin to settle for what we have become. We cede control like the plastic bag—tossed by the winds of adversity and challenge and deposited where we along the side of the road that would have lead to our dreams.

Deliberate living
Jim Rohn has said,

“If you don’t have a plan (goals) for what you want, then you will probably find yourself buying into someone else’s plan and later find out that wasn’t the direction you wanted to go. You’ve got to be the architect of your life.”

Before the builders of a massive office structure begin construction, architects spend months in designing it. They discuss functionality, beauty, local ordinances and make detailed plans for the building’s construction.

They produce blueprints that detail the physical structure, the ventilation and electrical systems. They consult with interior designers to create the finest arrangement for beauty and function possible.

Contrast that with a young boy building a tree house. He dreams of a place he can go to be alone-a secluded, secret place. He imagines a wonderful “castle in the air.” But, rarely do young men plan the details of such a structure. He may find a board and nail it up on a limb. Next, he finds some masonite, which he nails next to the board. As he finds materials, he adds them to his little structure. Without planning, his castle becomes less than a shack.

We do that with our lives. We take what comes, try to find a way to use it in our lives, and settle for what comes our way. Rather than planning what we will become, we settle for what comes to us.

We may have striven to reach our dreams and through opposition and trial, chose to give up on them.

Road Construction Analogy
If you were on your way to work and found barricades indicating that your usual route has been close for construction, what would you do? Give up and go home? Go somewhere else? Of course not, you would find another route to your destination.

We will often find barricades blocking our way toward our dreams. But, too often we give up and find another destination. Rather than changing our dreams, I suggest that we should change our route to our dreams. Find another way to get there. Make a new plan. The blueprints may change, but the basis of our dreams need not.
We need not settle. We can live our dreams. We need a plan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

If from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.
Set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord. Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.

And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the Lord God of Israel, did eat. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things. Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name. Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger. And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.

Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

*’“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*'“’*

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness … Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children … Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets … and all these things shall be added unto you … how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Glimpses of God © by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pioneering Insanity

 by: Skye Thomas

“They’re crazy!” That’s what they’re saying about us. The majority of the people in America at this time in history do not channel spirits, do not converse with angels or aliens, do not astral project, do not know about any kind of higher vibration, and do not talk about Starseeds, Indigo Children, nor Lightworkers. They don’t know anything about ancient secrets being coded into crystals nor about the healing effects of various stones. The only animals they talk to are their pets and they don’t actually listen for any kind of a response. They don’t talk to dead people. They have no idea what kind of a higher purpose or mission they might have been sent here to do. They have no idea what it is to have a voice from above speak to you and ask you to step out of the normal way of things to do some sort of holy spiritual work that will help guide or save humanity. They just go about their lives having no idea what it is to walk in our shoes. They call us crazy and sometimes it’s difficult not to agree with them.

Be honest, don’t you find that you doubt your own sanity at times? I do. I used to think I was the only one having this experience until the internet… now I know that there are millions of us all with the same flavor of insanity. I suffer from PNS Syndrome. That stands for Paranormal Nagging Spirits Syndrome. These nagging little voices are always telling me what to do and telling me to improve myself and to then go out and teach others how to improve themselves. It’s bad enough that they natter at me all of the time, but then they always insist that I have to go public with the whole thing. Yet, nobody else in the room ever hears them. I wonder how much longer until they make a little pill to make the voices in my head go away. Then I think about how lonely it would be inside my head if I didn’t hear them anymore. Every time I think about that pesky little ‘going public’ part, I find my sanity going out the window again. Can’t we keep this to ourselves? I just want to get along with everyone else who doesn’t here the voices.

I read other people’s websites, magazine articles, and newsletters and it amazes me how open and factual it all sounds. Hello! Did you forget that we are weird? Why aren’t you hiding? Wait until we have more real tangible proof! Then I remember all of the pioneers that came before us. What must it have been like for Lewis and Clark to travel across this country and bring back far out wild stories that the East Coast folk could hardly believe. This must be how it feels to be a pioneer in any field of study, whether it’s exploring uncharted territories, studying Quantum Physics, decoding DNA, or walking on the moon. The normal everyday Joe sits back with this bewildered look on his face saying, “No way!” There’s always that element of “Wow! I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes,” as we share our discoveries with the rest of the world.

I remember back to the first couple of years that the voices used to come and talk to me. I was terrified to tell anyone for fear they’d lock me away in a little pink padded room. My poor children would be left orphans because their mom had gone insane! After many years of making those guiding voices prove themselves to me over and over again, I finally came out of the closet so to speak and began telling my closest friends. They didn’t think I was nuts. About three or four years ago, I finally came out to everyone and it was amazing how many people’s faces lit up and said, “I know exactly what you mean, I thought I was the only one they talk to too!!” I even ran a radio ad for my company based on those little voices in your head and had an overwhelming response from other speakers, writers, and healers who all came forward saying they heard them too.

I’ve seen too many things and had too many people come forward with stories just like mine, not to believe something or someone is out there helping us. The voices in my head have proven themselves correct and loyal too many times for me to doubt them. I was miraculously led to discover all of these amazing paranormal teachings and concepts all by myself. Then, I was shown books stating that every single thing those voices ever taught me were ancient wisdoms that mankind has been aware of forever. Here I was thinking I was all holy and special only to find out that they’ve been doing this to us since the beginning of time. I have nothing new to say and neither does anyone else who is teaching this stuff.

Isn’t it natural to feel crazy and insane when pioneering into areas that are unknown and different from what we’re used to? Can this many people really be crazy with the same mental health problems? Do we all have some sort of Joan of Arc Complex that makes us create the illusion that we’re here to help and maybe even save these people? Do we just sell snake oil to ourselves saying it’s some sort of magical elixir? Well if I’m crazy, then please don’t save me. I love believing that I’m the kind of person who steps up to the plate and does the impossible. I love believing that I was put on this planet to make a difference. I love being that kind of person. Don’t cure me of my fantasies that magic really happens. If this is crazy, then so be it. I’m in good company.

Copyright 2003, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow’s Edge

About The Author

Skye Thomas began writing books and articles with an everyday practical approach to spirituality, motivation, and inspiration in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, motivation, and parenting. More of her articles can be found at www.tomorrowsedge.net as well as free previews of her books.

skye@tomorrowsedge.net

Source: High Quality Article Database – 365Articles.com