• Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever thing are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things (NKJV)
• Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)
• If there is any virtue and excellence, if t here is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your minds on them). (Amplified Bible)

Paul recorded in Philippians 4:8-- he challenges me to seek out and dwell on the positives in my life. When I look for places where God’s character is revealed, I am reminded of his presence in my life, and I am blessed. (page 20)
 
I use ‘to-do’ lists to clarify my priorities and guide me through the day. This is a good strategy, but even more important is a ‘to-think’ list. Paul has essentially given me a master ‘to-think’ list, illuminating the types of thoughts I should have if I want to produce positive results. (page 20)
 
Paul is telling me that what I should focus on reveals a critical point: I always have a choice. If I didn’t, this verse would be unnecessary. If I am naturally positive all the time, Paul wouldn’t emphasize this point so dramatically. If I cannot control my negativity, this teaching would be unrealistic and beyond my capability. (page 21)
 
Paul is reminding me that I have a choice. I can control my thoughts. The choice is between good and bad, excellence and mediocrity. Life is never completely good or completely bad. There will always be some junk and there will always be some greatness. I will always have something to complain about, and I will always have some blessings to count. (page 21)
 
Life is filled with peaks and valleys: there will all always be something working really well in my life in the valleys; just as everything will not be perfect on the mountain peaks. Life is always a mixture of good and bad. (page 21)
 
Whether I choose to count my blessings or choose to complain, I have a choice.
 
When I focus on the good, I not only notice more good but I actually create more good. Focusing on the positive things causes me to search for more that is positive. As a result, I perceive and appreciate more good, which sets the stage for even more positive circumstances. Eventually, I will have more joy, more enthusiasm, and more gratitude. This draws the best out of me, others around me and creating a virtuous cycle, rather than a vicious cycle, in which I continually find and multiple what I am looking for. Page 22)
 
When I focus on the negative, what happens?

• I get dragged down, like a huge weight is on my shoulders
• My motivation is sucked down as if gravity has taken hold of it I don’t operate at my full potential, hell,
• I don’t operate at 1/4th of my potential
• I withdraw from those I love, wanting to be left alone to re-charge myself.
•  Almost like charging your mobile phone but the connection between the charger and phone isn’t fully connecting and it takes triple the time to re-charge the phone. I put off going to the Sprint store to get a new phone or charger, and live with the reduced power on the mobile phone for another month before taking action. The mobile phone isn’t being used to it’s full potential, for some reason, the pain of not having the phone working properly is less than the pain of making the time to drive to the Sprint store, standing in line and waiting for my turn, explaining the problem, only to find out that the problem is not under warranty. By then, I want to scream, “just make the phone work, or give me a phone that does work, forget the warranty!”
• Thinking about my mom being gone and my children nor me can never see her again in this lifetime crushes my inner soul.
•  That my husband, children, in-laws and the newer people in my life will never know the joyous person she was (not perfect, but joyous) before her Parkinson’s disease.
• Thinking about my dad grieving so much over the loss of my mother and the damage of Allianz to his spirit.
•  That my husband, children, in-laws and the newer people in my life will never know the honorable, successful, respected man he was before the Evil Empire.
• My precious daughter, Taylor, living away from me, her mom. I never fathomed this would happen. It is also, the most selfless thing I have ever done. I should have fought for complete change 14 years ago, and it kills me.
• Letting others be negative around me. Why didn’t I prune the ‘rosebush’ a long time ago? By being quiet, I gave others the impression that they had control.
• Feeling like I am all alone as a grown up. Not as a person, but as a grown up. 85% of the elders I look up to and learned from have passed away. I feel left behind when I wasn’t ready to be let out of the nest. I still had more growing up to do before being released.
• Seems trivial, but the weight I have kept on since having Jack. Granted, I gave birth to him at the age of 40 and my metabolism is different. While I never want to weigh 115 lbs or be a size 4 again, a firm body around 130 lbs & size 8 sounds good to me.
• My graying hair is a constant reminder that my life is moving along faster than I am prepared. My first gray hair appear at the age of 23 and noticed by Jane Ann while we were visiting. Her remark was something like, “OH MY GAWD, you have gray hair, let me pluck it”, as she was already yanking it from my head. I truly think people would be surprised to see how much of my hair is gray. My guess is over 55%, but thanks to the use of L’Oreal Medium Golden Brown every 6 weeks, they don’t see it.
• My children going to another’s home while I go to work. This goes against every fiber I have, or was taught to have. The ‘or’ portion of the prior sentence is new for me. I am not sure if I told I had to be a stay at home mom and that was the only way you could be a good mom, never questioning this until my 40’s. Can I really be a good mom while having a career?

Each moment is a new beginning. My future is not defined by my past. My thoughts can change, and consequently, my future life can become totally different. Negative thinking corrupts my brain and triggers harmful mental states such as anxiety, moodiness, depression, and irritability. Unless I train my mind constructively, my thinking becomes automatic, impulsive and erroneous. My thoughts often misrepresent reality by bending, distorting, deleting, exaggerating, or manipulating the truth. (page 24)
 
Most negative thinking is simply a bundle of lies that cannot be substantiated and certainly could not make it through a vigorous cross-examination. When I think a limiting thought without challenging it, my mind buys into it. To counteract this, I need to remind myself that negative thoughts do not come from God. God is positive about everything but sin. If a thought brings about worry, fear or fatigue, it is not from God. After all, the Bible tell me, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV). If a thought leads me to feel like a victim instead of a victor, it is not from God. Though we are engineered for success, it is very easy to inadvertently program ourselves for mediocrity if I neglect to think positive, goal-directed thoughts. Productive thinking and destructive thinking are both merely habits. (page 25)

When I focus on the positive, what happens?................to be continued