Jack Canfield - Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive
101 Inspirational Stories about Counting Your Blessings and Having a Positive Attitude
Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Amy Newmark. Foreword by Deborah Norville
www.SimonandSchuster.com

Published by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC www.chickensoup.com
Copyright 2010 by Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Front cover photo courtesy of Stockphoto.com/Irochka_T ( Irina Tischenko). Deborah Norville photo on back cover courtesy of Timothy White. Interior photo courtesy of iStockphoto.com/Yuri_Arcurs ( Jacob Wackerhausen)

Cover and Interior Design & Layout by Pneuma Books,LLC
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Distributed to the booktrade by Simon & Schuster. SAN: 200-2442

Publisher's Cataloging-in-Publication Data
(Prepared by The Donohue Group)

Chicken soup for the soul : think positive : 101 inspirational
stories about counting your blessings and having a positive attitude /
[compiled] by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, [and] Amy Newmark ; foreword
by Deborah Norville.

p. ; cm.

Summary: A collection of 101 true personal stories from regular people about the power of positive thinking in their lives and how they use positive thinking, count their blessings, and are grateful.

ISBN: 978-1-935096-56-6
eISBN-13: 978-1-6115-9131-6

1. Optimism--Literary collections. 2. Optimism--Anecdotes. 3. Attitude (Psychology)--Literary collections. 4. Attitude (Psychology)--Anecdotes. 5. Conduct of life--Literarycollections. 6. Conduct of life--Anecdotes. I. Canfield, Jack, 1944- II. Hansen, MarkVictor. III. Newmark, Amy. IV. Norville, Deborah. V. Title: Think positive

PN6071.O7 C45 2010
810.8/02/0353 2010930826

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
on acidfree paper
18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

~Words that Changed My Life~

~Health Challenges~

~Every Day Is Special~

~Role Models~

~Counting Your Blessings~

~Overcoming Adversity~

~Attitude Adjustments~

~Silver Linings~

~Moving Forward~

~Gratitude~

Change your thoughts and you change your world.

~Norman Vincent Peale

I cant remember how long its been since I first heard those words. Change your thoughts and you change your world. Its a simple enough phrase, but wowthose words are packed with power. They have been something of a lifelong mantra for me. Change your thoughts and you change your world. When times are tough, when I feel so frustrated by disappointments and not reaching my goals, I repeat those words in my head and make a conscious, almost physical effort to change course, recalibrate, and steer my little ship of self in a fresh, more positive direction.

The other day I was speaking to a group of women in the financial industry and one woman asked to what I credited my long television career. I had to think for a moment. I have been blessed in the television business. I started working at the CBS station in Atlanta when I was still in college and interviewed then-President Jimmy Carter on live TV when I was only nineteen years old. (I dont know which was more exciting: Interviewing the President or having ABCs White House Correspondent Sam Donaldson asking me afterward what he said! You could have shot me and my tombstone would have read, She died happy.)

Even when my career took some unexpected tough turns, I somehow managed to pull myself and my career back together, pick up the pieces and start over. But what was the secret to my long and still successful career? As I pondered the question, I realized there were probably three qualities that have worked in my favorand the good news is anyone can develop them. I have an extraordinary capacity for hard work, an insatiable curiosity, and a (sometimes) ridiculous ability to look on the bright side. All of us can work hard, put in a few more hours at work, and try a bit harder to master a challenge. Contrary to the old saying, curiosity didnt kill the cat or anyone else. Learning new things, exploring topics about which we know nothingthats what gives life its zest. But finding the bright side? Well, how does one do that when youve lost a job, gotten a dire diagnosis, or seen your personal life shattered?

For me, finding the silver lining in lifes clouds was something of a coping mechanism. As a little girl, my mother battled chronic illness. I remember when school was dismissed, Id hear other kids see their moms cars in the pick-up line and complain their playground time was cut short because Mom is here already. I was thrilled when my familys station wagon was among the cars. It meant Momma was having a good day. Later when she died (I was twenty at the time), I was able to find gratitude in the knowledge that she was no longer in pain.

When I started my television career before I graduated from the University of Georgia, I had to deal with plenty of naysayers. How would you respond to a woman who said to you, You have no business being here and are taking away a job from someone who is qualified? I will never forget that moment in front of the vending machines at Channel 5. I stammered out a reply along the lines of Well, the boss is giving me this chance and I hope to prove him right. I also resolved to make the most of the opportunity as long as it lasted. Who knows, the boss might be persuaded the female reporter was right!

Later when my career was derailed, I discovered that while I couldnt control what happened in my life, I could control how I let it impact me. The Greek Epictetus said it quite elegantly, Ask not that events should happen as you will, but let your will be that eventsshould happen and you will have peace. I must confess I only made that discovery after wallowing in depression and self-pity for a time.

It is NOT easy to do. How many times have you not gotten the job? Havent you felt kicked in the teeth when denied opportunities, been frustrated when someone not nearly qualified enough got the green light instead? Maybe health problems have rearranged your familys life. It just isnt fair! I know Ive felt that way. It isnt fair. But heres the thing. Ive given birth to three children and at no point was there ever anyone in the delivery room looking at that newborn and saying, Kid, from here on out, its all fair. Life just doesnt work that way.