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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Positive Attitude: It Makes a Big Difference

What do you surround yourself with? Do you hang out with negative people or positive? The first group will drag you down, the second will build you up. As a writer I occasionally come across people who look at me funny and invariably say something along the lines of "Why don't you get a real job?" The people who say things like that to me find that I avoid their company. I don't shun them or despise them, rather I avoid them in order that I may surround myself with people who will encourage me to strive toward my goals. I do not have a large circle of friends and this is why. If I were to hang out with the crowd I could have more 'friends' . . . but in actuality they would be acquaintences. A true friend is a kindred spirit; someone who encourages you in what you do and is honest enough to tell you when you've done something wrong. Those that I count as my friends are not acquaintences, they are encouraging individuals who appreciate me for who I am and what I want to be. I can count my friends on one hand. They are few in number but strong in heart.

The same principle applies to entertainment. When you watch television, is the show or movie a positive force on your attitude or a negative? I enjoy watching movies. Any of my friends can tell you that. But there are certain things I avoid at times. For instance, we have several seasons of the I Love Lucy Show on DVD. I can't watch too many of those at a time because I find that the sarcasm adversly affects my attitude. The same is true of science fiction shows. Some of them get too dark and the characters are always down in the ruts. I have found that watching less television empowers me for a more productive day. That's not to say television is bad, in fact, at times, it is a very good thing. But exercising wisdom in what you fill your mind with goes a long way toward being a positive individual.

Fill your mind with clean thoughts by sifting out the images you allow your eyes to see. And surround yourself with individuals who will encourage you to attain your goals and be a constant, unfailing encouragment to you.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the encouraging posts, Scott! It is so true that the people you hang out with affect your attitude.

There was a time when I only had 3 friends because I had made the choice that I wanted to be more careful about who I was spending my time with (for the very reasons you spoke of).

Keep sharing... :)
Kelley

Author Scott Appleton said...

Thank you, my Fair Maiden!

Seedshakers said...

Hey, that reminds me of a little song we used to sing as kids. :) Ready?!

**********
O be careful little eyes what you see
O be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
So, be careful little eyes what you see.

O be careful little ears what you hear
O be careful little hands what you do
O be careful little feet where you go
O be careful little mouth what you say
**********

Okay, I hope you enjoyed the little song. Haha. Have a great day Scott!!

WELCOME TO THE WRITING SITE OF SCOTT APPLETON

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." -Proverbs 16:24

In a world where morality is forsaken and Christ neglected, wholesome books are uncommon. The themes of my writing are love, self-sacrifice, and honor.

I see my generation turning from God to the gods of this world. I see homes torn apart in the pursuit of pleasure and self-gratification. Children are murdered by the millions every year . . . without ever seeing the world outside their mothers' wombs. Through fiction I strive to encourage those who are willing, to stand against these things and be heroes and heroines; chivalrous, gentle, full of righteous indignation, and the fear and love of their Creator.