Perspective: Sharing authors' quotes on enrichment and growth

There are times in which I think I'll never live long enough to read everything I want to read.

It seems like I'm always working through four or five different books, but in spite of that, I've never considered myself a bookworm.

Maybe I'm kidding myself.

Nevertheless, a number of authors have been speaking to me recently with gentle reminders of the importance of having an uplifting outlook and a constructive demeanor.

In many instances, I find that their words are much better than my own.

Author and motivational speaker John C. Maxwell wrote that to have the best attitude, a person must work on areas in which one's attitude is bad, must think about the kind of person one wants to be, must place a high value on others, and must learn to appreciate life.

"Thinking about the good things helps us to be grateful," he wrote. "Remaining grateful helps us to have a more positive attitude."

Pastor and author Dr. Charles Stanley wrote that it is important to take control of one's thoughts, for to fail to do so puts a person "at the mercy of external forces."

Thought-provoking indeed.

Dr. Stanley went on to explain that the mind is where a battle rages as to how each of us will act. "If it is broached by negative, critical, undisciplined thoughts," he wrote, "our behavior and our entire personality are adversely affected. We act out the way we perceive ourselves, the way we think. Our actions conform with our thinking. Right thinking is the first step toward right living."

In a short book called Fish!, authors Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen made it clear that how a person thinks about things at work has a lot to do with how good or bad that work atmosphere becomes.

They wrote, "People like to work in an environment that is fun, energizing, and where they can make a difference."

The authors made it very clear that individuals can choose the attitude they bring to work each day and can take a lot of pride and joy in what they do.

A quote from James Allen follows that line of thinking. He wrote in 1902 in his book As a Man Thinketh, "A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances."

Apparently we can choose how we face each day and as a result, we can choose how we will navigate our way through life. And as you can see, those thoughts didn't originate with me.

I just thought I would pass them on.

David Wilson, EdD, is the associate principal at Jefferson City High School. You may e-mail him at [email protected].