Negative list getting you down?

I have been contacted in regard to speaking to a large group of CEO’s concerning the subject of “Surviving and thriving during tough economic times”. I have been asked to submit some talking points outlining what I intend to tell them concerning this subject. As I ponder putting this list of talking points together I cannot help but think about all of the requests for similar information coming from reporters for various publications, radio and television interviews, speaking engagements, and personal letters that I have received in the past view months. All are keenly interested in this same subject.

The economy has taken a down-turn and the dollar has reached new lows, the home mortgage crisis is horrible with record foreclosures, bankruptcy filings for our senior citizens are soaring, politicians are corrupt and will say just about anything and do anything to get elected, (whereby they can line their pockets at our expense), many banks are in danger of collapsing due to bad loans, food costs are rising as are fuel costs and just about everything else, business forecasts are gloomy, and the world is dangerous and full of evil people who want to take away our freedom and destroy our way of life. The negative list is long and depressing.

I have not only personally survived all of the above (and far worse conditions than those listed or that most normal people could ever even imagine), but I have managed to thrive in spite of it. What is my magic bullet for not only surviving but thriving? I’m writing a book right now detailing my journey in detail, but if you leapt upon me and pinned me to the floor, and twisted my arm to the breaking point and demanded me to reveal my top secret today ahead of my book, I would be embarrassed as to how simple of an explanation I would offer.

I can sum it up in one sentence. I have faith. In order to survive tough times, one must have faith that after the rain there will be sunshine and the rainbow that I mentioned yesterday will come out; (and that there is a pot of gold at the end of it). If you have faith, it becomes easier to go to work every day and work hard and smart to achieve your goals and you will think constantly of the positive list and not be sucked into the negative list.

Consider the eight gold medals won by Michael Phelps in various swimming events at the Beijing Olympics and the fifty million dollars plus of “golden” endorsements that he will likely receive for his performance. Hmmm Flash back to the thousands upon thousands of hours of grueling training that he went through day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. He did not get those massive shoulders and neck and 32 inch waist from sitting around worrying about how stiff the competition was going to be at the Olympics and all of the obstacles and the negative list. He believed that if he worked hard enough and long enough, that he could bring home the gold. He knew that no one was going to win it for him, (not even a government handout). He did not survive; he thrived because he had faith that he could do it. When you are a believer you can accomplish great things.

I have told countless people for years to work don’t worry. Spend the same amount of time and energy that you waste each day worrying or worse feeling sorry for oneself, and instead try to figure the best way to climb to the top. It requires faith not to worry and personally I think that is the key that will unlock the door to success.

Unfortunately for some I did mention that nasty word, “work”. Some folks do not like that word. Phelps did not win his gold medals sitting on the couch drinking beer and watching television as he gorged down junk food, or by playing golf with his friends while everyone else practiced in the pool. He worked hard every day including those days he did not feel like working and probably even when he was ill. Ask Michael Phelps if all of the hard work was worth it. Ask anyone who knows me and they will, (to a person), tell you that I have an enormously strong work ethic and have worked very hard for years, and years, and years. Ask me if it was worth it. Yep.

I cannot speak for Michael Phelps but I can personally tell you that my faith begins and ends with God. I believe the Bible when it tells me not to worry that Jesus loves me and will take care of me, not only through this world, but forever. I believe it when it tells me that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. His instructions to me via the Bible encourage me to work hard and to run each race with the goal of winning it and I try my utmost to obey God when it comes to this and other things.

I do not like some of what goes on in the world but I do not dwell on it. I have never liked enduring personal tragedy, but I have had my share and more; however the Bible tells me that it is not unique to me and such is common to all mankind. I believe that it rains on the righteous just like it does the wicked, but importantly that rain is never forever. I also stop and look around on occasion and thank God for the blessings that I have. Even at my darkest hour there were those who were far worse off than me.

I persevere and continue to fight my way through the tough times, because I see the light on the other side. I do not enjoy trials and tribulation, but I endure all the while knowing that what goes up, eventually goes down, and what goes down, eventually goes back up; valleys and peaks, peaks and valleys. We will have both in life and to tell the truth the hard times have been the most beneficial in shaping my character, strengthening my faith and giving me hope; and that my friends is primarily why I believe that God allows them. I can tell you hard times taught me how to pray and those prayers were always answered. (Sometimes with a yes, no, or not now.)

And there you have it and you did not even have to pay one of those expensive speaking engagement fees or buy my book.

Phil.4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving, let your
requests be known to God.
And the peace of God which surpasses
all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.