Aboard a flight from L.A. to New York, Grandma Esther was taking her very first flight.
They had only been aloft a few minutes when the elderly lady complained to the stewardess that her ears were popping.
The girl smiled and gave the older woman some chewing gum, assuring her that many people experienced the same discomfort. When they landed in New York, Grandma thanked the stewardess.
“The chewing gum worked fine,” she said, “but tell me, how do I get it out of my ears?”
Well obviously, grandma was not thinking.
Everything starts with the mind and we have to be mindful with our thinking.
There are subconscious thoughts that you can’t control, but the things that you really think about, your beliefs, your ideals, etc. are concepts you have chosen to accept and believe in.
Here is an old familiar cliché. The reason why they are old and they are familiar is simply because they are more than often true.
Everything begins with an idea, a thought. Then thought develops into words. Words develop into an action. An action develops into a habit. Habit becomes a character and of course character becomes one’s destiny. Some people allow their mouths to talk endlessly while their minds are parked in the parking lot. Maybe this is out of habit or maybe this is out of laziness. But the outcome always makes you ridiculous if you don’t control what you think before saying out loud your thoughts.
This beauty queen was vying for the Ms. USA title and she was asked this question during the competition (real story).
Question: If you could live forever, would you and why??
Her Answer: I would not live forever, because we should not live forever because, if we were supposed to live forever, then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever, which is why I would not live forever. Well obviously, she wasn’t thinking. Maybe she’s nervous. Maybe she’s disoriented but one thing for sure is she wasn’t thinking.
Sometimes beauty contestants get all the flak but the truth is that most of us are caught with our foot in our mouth. And when you study the lives of successful people, they are usually the same people who take the time to think and they really make it a point to control their thoughts.
Fill your mind with negative stuffs. Think about the offenses your friends and loved ones heaped upon you and I guarantee you the life you now live will turn out to be uninspiring, unpleasant and unexciting. Your life will be miserable and you become a bore and you bore others too. Misery loves company. Most of us can do more than we think we can, But we usually do less than we think we do.
An unknown author penned the following words:
If you think you’re beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but think you can’t.
It’s almost certain that you won’t.
Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger woman or man,
But sooner or later, those who win are those can.
Here’s what we should do:
Think possibilities. Never take NO for an answer until you have explored all means.
Don’t watch too many soap operas. Stay away from superstitions and horoscopes.
To some people a bright idea is beginner’s luck.
Mix in with the positive thinking crowd and nurture your thinking process.
Benjamin Disraeli says: “Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think!”
There are two kinds of people those who stop to think and those who stop thinking.
When you look at Scriptures, you will be amazed at the volume of verses that deal with the mind and the thinking process. Even one translation of The Bible says: “Whatsoever a man thinks…so he is…”
Think positively, think creatively not destructively. Think giving instead of taking. Thins serving instead of entitlement and think of others instead of yourself.
Now think about what I just said.
Thanks sir Francis. The poem is the favorite of my mom. You are what you think, also reminds me of another Bible verse that says, ” …be transformed by the renewing of your mind ” (Romans 12:2). Indeed, real change begins in our minds. God bless you as you continue blessing others with your inspring thoughts and words.
Beautiful…very inspiring!
very well said, sir. i was laughing out loud with your sharing about the grandmother, and even with the beauty contestant.
laughing because both sounded funny, but also stopped and thinkedabout what you shared as in some ways, i could relate to them.
hopefully, what i’ve just read will remind me to stop and think before opening my m outh…
God bless you always….
Swak na swak ang mga article mo Francis…
You keep inspiring many of us. (Note: I even watch you at UKG.. )
Mabuhay ka.
(BTW, do you still remember me? Hehehe!)
Great article.. That’s why, every morning I wake up I pray and say, God today, I accept Your blessings! And so, blessings just kept on pouring… God bless sir! Keep it up!
You really know how to say it, sir…
May the Lord bless you more.
I’m so happy to find this site and read this article it reminds me verse in the old book (Proverbs 4:23) in GNB version “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. ” and the old adage, “if it is to be, it is up to me.” Hey Francis you’re the MAN! Thanks for sharing!
I’m so happy to find this site and read this article it reminds me verse in the old book (Proverbs 4:23) in GNB version “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. ” and the old adage, “if it is to be, it is up to me.” Hey Francis you’re the MAN! Thanks for sharing!
glad to discover your site..your articles really inspire me so much & relieves my boredomness while working here in saudi..continue to use your gifts in inspriring fellow Filipinos..God bless po!!! (“,)
After reading this article I have come to realized that when you think negatively then it will affect our future goals.
Sir Francis, this is very inspiring. Depression and negative thoughts start in the mind, that’s why it’s the first thing that the enemy attacks. …..now, I am reminded to watch what I think…. 🙂
God bless you and your mind.
An unknown author penned the following words:
If you think you’re beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but think you can’t.
It’s almost certain that you won’t.
Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger woman or man,
But sooner or later, those who win are those can.
BRUCE LEE is the author..of this one
From “Poems That Live Forever,” published in 1965:
The Man Who Thinks He Can
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but think you can’t
It’s almost a cinch you won’t
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will;
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can.
Walter D. Wintle, “The Man Who Thinks He Can.” – Poems That Live Forever, comp. Hazel Feldman 1965
wow!wala na ‘kong masabi..haha
Very inspiring indeed..
Thank God He gave us a Sir Francis Kong..haha..
May He bless you more ü