My professional life involves much travel these days. Over the past 2 months I have experienced flight delays more than 50% of the time. Believe it or not, I am sitting at the airport going through yet another delay. I thought I would make good use of this most recent delay and talk about my “Thought of the Week” that I post each week on EagleLaunch. (See the Thought of the Week link on the home page).
This week the thought is/was “If you don’t like what is going on in your life, change it, if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.” This is another way of “saying” the Serenity Prayer; “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
The mind is such a powerful source of energy when managed effectively, but a great thief and robber of energy if managed ineffectively. I’ve said it many times…it is our choice whether or not we are happy or miserable. It is our choice whether or not we have energy from thinking great things or we have anxiety and worry from miserable thinking.
My current condition is proof of that. Here I sit, waiting out yet another flight delay. I could be moaning and groaning like some of the people around me but instead I am writing a blog and trying to make the best use of my time. Learning to control our thoughts is the most important step in having serenity and peace in all situations. Some real keys to control our thinking include:
1. Prayer and conscious contact with God (that is why we have the Holy Spirit)
2. Easy access to and the utilization of “great thinkers”…great thinkers are those who have “serenity”
3. Put good things in your mind as often as you can…the gospels in the Bible is a great place to start.
4. Know your weaknesses/character defects (these come about by doing a personal inventory i.e. step 4…click The 12 Step link on the right side of this page.)
5. Stay away from people, places, things and situations that expose your weaknesses
6. Know your strengths/character strengths (these come about by doing a personal inventory, step 4, also)
7. Try to play to your strengths whenever confronted with a situation that is about to take control of your serenity.
I just got an update about my flight. The delay has increased from 35 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. I just finished this blog so I’ve got to play to another strength…time to go find a good book. I just beat another plane delay…it was my choice. 🙂
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will,” (peace/serenity in all situations).
P.E.A.C.E.
