Stinkin' Thinkin'

Most of the time I am a dreamer. My wife says that I think every idea is going to work. She's right. I have always been a pretty positive person with a list of what I call BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). Go big or go home! And I have always been told that the secret to getting where I feel God wants me to be is a positive attitude. Visualize! See yourself doing the things that you feel called to do. Image yourself accomplishing great things. Vince Lombardi said, "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence." Think positive and never let yourself get bogged down in "Stinkin' Thinkin'".

Although I have always tried to practice this, I read something the other day that advised me to have some 'Stinkin Thinkin'. The article I was reading suggested that the idea of negative realization could be beneficial. So I tried it.

Yesterday, Thanksgiving day, I woke up and practiced some negative realization. I spent a few minutes imagining what it would be like to loose my wife and kids. It was the worst few minutes I can remember in a long time. As I sat there with tears rolling down my face I realized the incredible void that would be left in my life. I had to respond to the feelings I was having. I walked into my office and began to write my wife and each of our kids a hand-written note. In that note I simply listed all the reasons that I was thankful for them. Of course the reaction was tears and hugs and I believe it changed the course of our day. At the very least it changed my attitude.

It is so easy to loose sight of things. Have we trained ourselves to strive beyond thankfulness?

We all need to remember to want what we already have.

Just a thought...maybe you should consider having a little "Stinkin Thinkin" today...just for a moment. What if you lost who and what you have today? Be thankful today for who God has placed in your life and the resources he has entrusted you with.

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!