Tip #28: Watch Out For Stinking Thinking!
Henry Ford once said "Whether You Think You Can or You Can't, You're Right". I wholeheartedly believe this very powerful phrase. Much of who we are and who we will become has to do with what we think about ourselves. But, have you ever stopped to think about why you think the way you think (confusing, huh)? Whether you think you're fat, ugly, smart, dumb, cool, funny, happy, etc. has a lot to do with what people think about you. Is that fair for you to think about who you are based on what other people think? NO! (although sometimes it's not bad when you need a reality check). Neither is it fair to think about who you are and what you will become based on life events that you have no control over. I think we all remember the story of the Little Engine That Could (if you don't, Google it). The Little Engine had a heavy load to carry over a hill but the Little Engine continued to repeat the phrase "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." in this story and as a result, this Little Engine eventually carried the heavy load of cargo over the hill (obviously I didn't do this story justice so please Google it). Your life may not be a story of a little train carrying a load of cargo over a hill but I'm sure you can draw some parallels from it. Whatever your load may be, just have a little faith and trust that God has equipped you with all you need to "think you can". But please use some common sense. Sometimes "thinking you can" when you shouldn't doesn't make sense. Thinking you can fly is okay. However, thinking you can fly when you jump off a building makes no sense. If you want to fly, buy an airline ticket. I say that to make this point: believing you can do something takes the right means and effort. Don't be silly. To wrap this up, Matthew 19:27 says it this way "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” So there you go! Remember, "Whether You Think You Can or You Can't, You're Right".
Written 10/17/2013 by John Weaver