Chapter 5
The Power of Positive Thinking • Sermon • Submitted
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Many of us manufacture our own unhappiness. Of course not all unhappiness is self-created, for social conditions are responsible for not a few of our woes. Yet it is a fact that to a large extent by our thoughts and attitudes we distil out of the ingredients of life either happiness or unhappiness for ourselves.
That collection of wise sayings, the book of Proverbs, tells us that “...he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.” (Proverbs 15:15) In other words, cultivate the merry heart; that is, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast, which is to say you can enjoy life every day. Out of the happiness habit comes a happy life. And because we can cultivate a habit, we therefore have the power to create our own happiness.
If an unhappiness thought should enter your mind, immediately stop, consciously eject it, and substitute a happiness thought. Every morning before arising, lie relaxed in bed and deliberately drop happy thoughts into your conscious mind. Let a series of pictures pass across your mind of each happy experience you expect to have during the day.
Tomorrow try this plan instead. When you arise, say out loud three times this one sentence: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24) Only personalise it and say: “I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Repeat it in a strong, clear voice and with positive tone and emphasis.
“The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised.”