Chapter 6.11 Positive Summary

Summary of the Positive

“A weed is no more than a flower in disguise.”

James Lowell (1819-1891)      American Romantic Poet

Before we explore some Earthwhile Tools that will help us ascend to the Plateau, let’s take a look and see how we have done so far.

We have been able to overcome Sloth and Apathy through Commitment and Enthusiasm. Gluttony and Greed have been kept at bay with Discipline and Generosity. Humility, Gratitude, Confidence, and Self-Acceptance can dissolve Bad Pride, Guilt, and Envy.

Joy and Compassion for our fellow man softens our Complaining and our Anger. We manage our Frustration with Discipline and Perseverance. Genuine Love easily wins out over Lust.

When you have Faith in a Plan, you no longer have to Worry or be Anxious.  And when you truly do believe that the Universe is on your side, you brim with Confidence, Commitment and Enthusiasm. What can you possibly Fear?

Falling back into Negative thoughts, actions, and moods? Sliding down the slope?

“Those that are afraid of bad luck will never know good.”

Russian Proverb

Our purpose in life is to keep battling Negativity. It keeps trying to slip under the door. We must be diligent.

—-  Light Bulb!! —- Just say NO to Negativity!  (a bit paradoxical, yes?)

Maybe I’ve been positioning myself at the wrong attack point. Focusing on Negativity is, well, a bit negative in itself … No? …
I mean …. Yes?

Fighting Negativity as my life’s purpose seems kind of exhausting and actually a bit Quixotic. I want to be engaged in pleasant pursuits, feel the good stuff. Instead of constantly fighting Negativity, I’d much rather embrace the role of dishing out Positivity. Spread d’light to everyone I meet. It seems like a higher plane in my book.  (Hey, that’s what this is!)

“The dread of evil is a much more forcible principle of human actions than the prospect of good.”

John Locke (1632-1704)     English Philosopher

We have learned that as human animals, our brain has a tendency for Negativity to protect our own survival. We have also learned that, on average, it takes five small positive actions to offset our Negative bias. Our goal is to build that pyramid. For each positive act, we lay a stone, a support for the rest of our structure. The more stones we lay, the higher and the wider our pyramid grows. But each time we perform a negative act, five stones are thrown off the pyramid.

“That’s my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck’s back. If it’s not positive, I didn’t hear it. If you can overcome that, fights are easy.”

George Foreman      Heavyweight Boxer

So here comes an important twist. If we concentrate on battling Negativity as our life’s purpose, we are spending too much time defending, and not enough time building. We need to find ways to perform loads of little positive actions … and to inspire others to lay more stones with us.

“Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”

Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)       American 7th US President, quoting Napoleon Bonaparte

Negativity will still be around us, but we need to become much quicker at recognizing it, shielding it, and detaching from it. We must quickly change our thoughts to think positive. We’re going to need some preparation and brain-training to change our response mode. Let’s become warriors for the advancement of Positive Energy.

“Stop thinking, and end your problems.”

Lao Tzu (570-490 B.C.)      Chinese Founder of Taoism

Stop Thinking Negative!!! ……… and end our problems!!

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