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WITandWISDOM(tm) - August 2, 2004 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: "The habit of looking on the best side of every event is worth more than a thousand pounds a year. " - Samuel Johnson (1709 -1784) Source: Pastor John L Bechtel ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Your identity has a tremendous influence on your behavior. What we do readily or refuse to do is strongly connected with how we identify who we are. We tend to say, "I’ll do that. That’s who I am." Or, "I would never think of doing that. I’m not that kind of person." This pattern can work for us or against us depending on the nature of our subjective identity. There was a famous study designed to illustrate the power of our sense of identity. "Can we place this large billboard with the words: DRIVE CAREFULLY on your front lawn?" a number of homeowners were asked. Unbeknown to them the question was posed by a student working on a research project. Understandably, most people answered, "No." They didn’t want unsightly signs on their expensive front lawns. This same request was then posed in two steps. The house owners were asked, "Are you for safe driving?" Everyone replied, "Of course, yes." "Then would you please sign this petition for safe driving." Most agreed to sign. Several weeks later those who signed were approached again. "You signed a declaration that you are for safe driving. Are you still for safe driving today?" "Yes. I haven’t changed my mind," was the unanimous response. "Since you are a person who cares about safe driving, could you please allow us to place this billboard with a DRIVE CAREFULLY message on your front lawn?" Most agreed. Why? Because once they identified themselves as individuals who cared about safe driving, they acted consistently with their new identity. Previously even if they agreed, they might have done so reluctantly. Now that they were acting in a way consistent with their identity as being concerned about safe driving, they felt good about doing their part to help save lives. This principle applies to all areas. On our subject, the principle can be stated: Identify yourself as a person who is kind and caring and you will spontaneously upgrade your level of kindness. There are many instances when you will have opportunities to do acts of kindness for others but might not be open to do them. At times you might not recognize the opportunity. At other times, you just won t feel like doing the kind deed. Or you might not feel like it s incumbent upon you to speak up. When you identify yourself as a person who loves kindness, you will notice opportunities you hadn’t noticed before. You will feel like doing acts of kindness you didn’t feel like doing before. And you will always feel that it s up to you to do as much good as you can throughout your life. As you develop your love for kindness, you will view yourself as a person with a life goal to help others. You might not choose to share this with others. But in your heart you will know that this is who you are. From: “Kindness: Making a Difference in People's Lives: Formulas, stories, and insights”, By Zelig Pliskin, Shaar Press Source: Kind Words, mailto:Kindness-subscribe@PartnersInKindness.org ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Christian One Liners Don't let your worries get the best of you. Remember, Moses started out as a basket case. The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes and sand gnats come close. People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church. Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them. Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous. Don't wait for 6 strong men to take you to church. Forbidden fruits create many jams. Source: Sir Froggie's Positive News Network - Daily Good News Letter, http://www.sfpnn.com/subscribe_to_pnn1.htm ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A boy was told by his father not to go swimming. The father caught him swimming. “I didn’t mean to go swimming,” pleaded the boy. “Why did you bring your bathing suit?” “Oh,” replied the boy, “I brought it along just in case I was tempted.” From: Serve Him With Mirth by Leslie B Flynn This is a free e-book download. http://www.gospelcom.net/guide/resources/mirth.php ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: An Irishman who lost his wedding ring in the sea off Queensland has been reunited with it thanks to an English tourist. Declan O'Rourke, from County Wicklow thought he'd lost the gold band forever when it slipped off his finger as he enjoyed a scuba-diving trip on the Great Barrier Reef. But a month later snorkeller Paul Walker from Manchester saw it glinting on coral. He set out to trace its owner by contacting police and dozens of hotels, says The Sun. After a jeweler suggested it had been made in Ireland he made an appeal on a radio station - and was stunned to get a response from Mr O'Rourke. Declan said: "I thought there was just no way of ever finding it again." Source: Ananova http://www.ananova.co |