by Susan

A Clearer Understanding "Good"/"Bad  "Negative"/Positivef Thoughts:

Hopefully you will find here a clearer understanding of the definition of Positive (Good) Thoughts and Negative (Bad) Thoughts so that we might better understand ourselves, others, our behaviors, our community, our world, our interactions with others and our chosen lifestyle. 

It is my perception that each of us has the right, freedom and responsibility to choose what path we take in Life and our beliefs.     Because of that freedom we, alone, are held accountable for the choices we make and suffer the consequences whether it be good or bad.

 I personally find this to be a good test for me in making decisions pertaining to my daily life, my thoughts, my actions, my interaction with my community, my friends, my family, my relationships, mankind in general, my personal beliefs regarding religion, God, (Higher Being) and the personal choice of lifestyle that works best for me.  

I find that whatever I am focused on whether it is thought or deed does not bring harm to anyone or anything on this planet and produces good then it is the right thing for me to do.  However, if it brings hurt, injury, pain, suffering or degrades another in any way then I choose not to engage in it.  

“A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.”

 Mahatma Gandhi quotes (Indian Philosopher, internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest, 1869-1948)

Definition of Positive (adjective)

free from doubt or hesitation characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty; Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual;. Persuaded of; very sure; involving advantage or good; "a plus (or positive) factor" [syn: plus]

Positive (adj) Definition: beneficial, helpful

Antonyms: disadvantageous, negative, unhelpful

Positive (adj)Definition: definite, certain

Antonyms: doubtful, indefinite, negative, uncertain, unsure

Definition Of Good:

Good- ( noun)    Something that contributes to or increases one's well-being: advantage, benefit, interest (often used in plural), profit;: The quality or state of being morally sound: goodness, morality, probity, rectitude, righteousness, rightness, uprightness, virtue, virtuousness.      *Also see right/wrong.

Good(adj) Definition: authentic, real

Antonyms: fake, false, forged, phony, unreal

Good (adj) Definition: competent, skilled

Antonyms: incompetent, unqualified, unskilled, unsuitable

Good(adj) Definition: considerable

Antonyms: inconsequential, inconsiderable, unsatisfactory

Good(adj) Definition: kind, giving

Antonyms: bad, mean, unkind, vicious

Good (adj) Definition: moral, virtuous

Antonyms: evil, immoral, improper, naughty, noxious, sinful, unvirtuous, vile, wicked

Good (adj) Definition: pleasant, fine

Antonyms: bad, detestable, disagreeable, unpleasant

Good (adjDefinition: reliable; untainted

Antonyms: corrupt, noxious, rotten, tainted, unreliable, unwholesome

Definition Of Negative: having a bad, detrimental or injurious influence;

 Sometimes used as an alternate way of saying "no" (the opposite of "affirmative")

1. Designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions; "negative criticism"[syn: damaging] a reply of denial; To refuse to approve; veto.
2. To deny; contradict.
3. To demonstrate to be false; disprove.
4. To counteract or neutralize.

Negative (adjective)

Tending to discourage, retard, or make more difficult: adverse, disadvantageous, unadvantageous, unfavorable, unsatisfactory, untoward.

Negative (adj): bad, contradictory
Opposite : affirmative, good, positive
Negative (adj) : contradiction
Opposite: affirmation, positive

Definition of Bad:

 Bad-adj Below a standard of quality;Morally objectionable;Misbehaving, often in a troublesome way;

Bad (adj)Definition: decayed

Antonyms: good, ok, undecayed

Bad (adj) Definition: harmful

Opposite (antonyms): advantageous, beneficial, benevolent, good, honest, profitable, virtuous

Bad (adj)Definition: immoral

Antonyms: good, honest, just, reputable, right, true, virtuous

Bad (adj) Definition: of poor quality

Antonyms: acceptable, excellent, good, satisfactory, superior, worthy

"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. - Willie Nelson

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”   Winston Churchill quotes (British Orator, Author and Prime Minister during World War II. 1874-1965)

“The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.” -

 Benjamin Franklin quotes (American Statesman, Scientist, Philosopher, Printer, Writer and Inventor. 1706-1790)

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.”-

 W. Clement Stone quotes (American best selling Author and Founder of Combined Insurance Co (now a part of Aon Corp.), 1902-2002)

“It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts.”-

 Robert H. Schuller quotes (American Reformed Church Minister, Entrepreneur and Author, b. b.1926)

Posted by Susan@Healing Journeys at 5:12 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 5:42 AM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

( A story about quitting or giving up)

The Fern and the Bamboo.....

One day I decided to quit....
I quit my job, my relationship, my Spirituality...
I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said.
"Can You give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said.
"Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo".

He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from
the bamboo seed.  But I would not quit.

In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from
the bamboo seed.  But I would not quit.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.
Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant.  But
 just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots.  Those roots made it strong
and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time
you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? 

 I would not quit on the bamboo.  I will never quit on you.  Don't compare yourself to others."

He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they
both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come you will rise high!”

"How high should I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?"  He asked in return.

"As high as it can?" I questioned. "Yes." He said, "Give Me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and brought back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you... Never regret one single day or experience of your life.

Posted by Susan@Healing Journeys at 5:05 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 5:50 AM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Thomas Edison

It was a cold December night in West Orange, New Jersey. Thomas Edison's factory was humming with activity. Work was proceeding on a variety of fronts as the great inventor was trying to turn more of his dreams into practical realities. Edison's plant, made of concrete and steel, was deemed "fireproof". As you may have already guessed, it wasn't!

On that frigid night in 1914, the sky was lit up by a sensational blaze that had burst through the plant roof. Edison's 24-year-old son, Charles, made a frenzied search for his famous inventor-father. When he finally found him, he was watching the fire. His white hair was blowing in the wind. His face was illuminated by the leaping flames. "My heart ached for him," said Charles. "Here he was, 67 years old, and everything he had worked for was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, 'Charles! Where's your mother?' When I told him I didn't know, he said, 'Find her! Bring her here! She'll never see anything like this as long as she lives.'"

Next morning, Mr. Edison looked at the ruins of his factory and said this of his loss: "There's value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew."

What a wonderful perspective on things that seem at first to be so disastrous. A business failure, divorce, personal dream gone sour . . . whether these things destroy an individual depends largely on the attitude he or she takes toward them. Sort out why it happened, and learn something from the blunders. Think of different approaches that can be taken.

Start over.

Posted by Susan@Healing Journeys at 5:01 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 5:54 AM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

"Fear is the foundation of all human limitations."
Benny the Jet

Benny the Jet was a fighter, a kickboxer. Although very small in stature he has ventured to fight much larger opponents in full contact tournaments and he has beaten them. An achievement which earned him some acclaim.

Before you say, "hey! I thought that this was a spiritual publication" think carefully and reflect over your life. What fears have stopped you doing something and what rewards have you missed out on?

Fear is only an emotion not a brick wall.

We have discovered that you are not your thoughts. We have discovered that you are not your emotions. Thoughts and emotions happen through you as a result of you interactions with the world based on your perception of the past.

What you must realise is that all of the thoughts and emotions you have.......

1. Can be changed to suit you.

2. Do not have to determine your actions, or you don't have to act on them.

Last time you learned of goals and setting targets.

It is important to move forward into the direction that you wish to go. I deliberately use the words 'move into' because that's what you do. You don't move towards your goal as if it was a never reachable / achievable ideal. You literally merge with it.

You move forward and become what you want.

What stops you?    Fear.

Fear is an interesting emotion and comes from a series of thoughts.

These thoughts are expressed and form a picture of what you don't want to happen.

The ideal is to focus on what you do want to happen.

Whatever you focus on you move towards.

Just because you have a series of thoughts that

 create an emotion does not mean that you can't act. The emotion is independent of the ability to act. 

Here are some physical examples that illustrate the possibilities.

If you are about to parachute from an aeroplane you may feel fear but you can still perform the action.

A fighter may feel fear whilst he faces his opponent but he can still perform.

You may feel fear at the thought of public speaking. You can still actually speak whilst in the company of this emotion.

If you look at the pattern of thoughts that precede the emotion you will see that your focus is on what you do not wish to happen.

There is a direct correlation between the amount of thought you give in this direction to the power of your fear.

Of course there are other factors that complicate this illustration.

You may have had a prior negative experience which usually increases your fear. I know if you look closely you will find the same pattern of thoughts that lead to the emotion of fear.

A thought or series of thoughts have as much power over you as you give them.

It's not always as easy as the physical examples I have given. For the relationship between action and emotion is quite obvious. Here are some common but more intangible ways fear manifests and stops you moving ahead and into your goals.

Fear of Responsibility.

Responsibility means to have control or authority over something. In relation to your life you must realise that you are responsible for your actions.

You are the agent and the cause of everything that happens to you. You are in control.

The fear enters when you think in terms of good and bad, instead of cause and effect.

Thinking in terms of good and bad is the way you are conditioned. You must realise that no person is in a position to judge you.

If you take an action it has a consequence. If you make a mistake this does not mean you are bad. It means that you have made a mistake.

If you want a different result then I would do something different next time. With the help of mistakes you learn, those of you who can walk, actually learnt this through a series of mistakes.

Fear of Accountability.

To be accountable means that you are answerable to someone or something. We are answerable to ourselves. I don't mean to the self that manifests itself as your ego. I mean to yourself that is the true being hidden behind the ego.

This is the part of you that wants you to be the best you can be, it wills you to strive for excellence.

To be accountable to your true self is difficult because your ego is tasked with the job of keeping this true self from you so that you are protected from certain things such as emotional pain.

The fear comes from the fact that to be accountable to yourself you often have to venture a path that is apart from the crowd. This requires your individual idea's and desires to manifest. You may have been punished or ridiculed for either your mistakes or your idea's by others. This leads to conditioning that chains you to someone else's pattern of thought.

Fear of Success.

Fear of success is prevalent and is often linked to self esteem and responsibility.

You may not think you are worthy of success.

You may believe that you are worth less than someone else and therefore are not deserving of success.

Realise that you are equal as a human being with the rest of humanity and that no one person is any better or worse than you.

You have your own set of challenges to work through.

You are just as deserving of success as anyone else. What judgment have you made that limit your own self esteem.

Are you happy with yourself can you look yourself in the eye via a mirror and love yourself.

When success comes we move from an old pattern that has held us back, to a new pattern.

This can create emotional turbulence in the lives of those around us. It is important that you understand that you don't have to hold yourself back to protect the self esteem of others.

Many of these expressions of fear are closely intertwined and indistinguishable from one another.

It is important that you concentrate on what you want, not what you don't want. Realise that thoughts create their power over you through your emotions.

Your power comes through awareness of the process and observation of the hold that is over you. Awareness brings what is hidden into the light. The light shows you that you can be in control.

Posted by Susan@Healing Journeys at 4:41 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 5:56 AM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

By Susan

"duty" is an anti-concept which obscures the Law of Causality. Such a thing has no real existence. There is only choice and by Causality, the consequences of choice.

There is nothing that a man has 'got to do' except die. Reality gives us a great many "musts," but they are conditional and really mean "you must, if --" and the if stands for man's choice: "--if you want to be alive tomorrow in this desert, you must drink water today." You must practice, if you want to be an all-star football player. You must obey the law, if you wish to avoid prison.

In order for a man to achieve his goals he must make choices. To make the choices, a man needs to constantly and automatically be aware of the principle of causality.

It is causality -- not "duty" -- that guides one in considering, evaluating and choosing one's actions, especially those needed to achieve a long-range goal.

Gift- something bestowed freely:

When you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God.

The importance of serving others can never be over emphasized. What are we here for if not to serve our friends and loved ones? The golden rule says, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” King Benjamin said, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” That’s a powerful statement, but true.

How many of us think of others who need us but we feel that we are too busy to help? In the heat of the day, when we are trying to get something done, have we ever answered the call for help when someone asks? If we happen to know someone is sick, feeling down, depressed, and needs our support or help, do we stop what we’re doing and give a call to see how he or she is doing or give a helping hand? Following is an unusual story, which will touch anyone’s heart. It’s a story of love and compassion.

The Seattle Special Olympics only had nine contestants that were ready to run a 100-yard dash; all of them were children that were physically or mentally handicapped. When the gun sounded, they took off, each one hoping to win the race. Joy filled their souls, as they thought about the reward up ahead and how proud their parents would be if they were the one to win. Every parent and relative cheered them on, calling out their names and encouraging them. One of them would be able to display their son or daughter’s trophy in their living room for all to see.

As they ran, nearing the finish line, one small boy stumbled and fell to the ground. Upon hearing the boy weep, the eight contestants slowed down and looked back. Their hearts went out to him and each one of them turned around and went back and helped the young boy to his feet. All thoughts of winning had left their minds because a comrade was in trouble.

A girl with Down’s Syndrome kissed him on the cheek and said, “This will make it better.”

All nine contestants linked arms and walked together to the finish line. There was not a dry eye in the congregation when they saw that one act of compassion and love for another. Every one in the Stadium stood and cheered and clapped with tears in their eyes.

What really matters in our lives is helping others win. It is not where we serve, but how we serve, and we must serve with love. We have our rewards when we serve, rewards that bring us great joy.

So, you see Sweetie, it is our perception of those actions of service that we perform for others and our intentions in performing those services that is important. What is in our heart?  Are we serving ourselves or are we serving God, The Universe and Others?

Posted by Susan@Healing Journeys at 4:32 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 6:00 AM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

A traveling preacher finds himself in a tremendous rainstorm.

Within a few hours the hotel he is staying in becomes flooded. As the water rises, the preacher climbs to the roof and starts praying.

"Lord, save me so I can continue on my mission of preaching your gospel."

Just then, a coast guard rescue party floats by in a rowboat. "Let's go mister. Into the boat."

"I'll stay here," says the preacher, "The Lord will save me."

An hour later a second boat reaches the scene and the water is close to the roof of the hotel. "Sir, you better get in. the water is still rising."

"No thanks. The Lord will be my salvation."

Toward evening, the hotel is almost completely under water and the preacher is clinging to the satellite dish on the roof. A helicopter is spotted and on a loudspeaker is heard "Hello Sir, grab on to the line and we will pull you up. This is your last chance.

"I'm all right," says the preacher, as he looks heavenward. "I know the Lord will provide sanctuary."

As the boat departs, the satellite dish is hit by lightning and the preacher is killed. When he arrived at the Pearly Gates he was furious.

"What happened, " he shouts. "I thought the Lord would provide!"

Moments later a thunderous voice is heard. "Gimmie a break pal. I sent you 2 boats and a chopper"

Posted by Susan@Healing Journeys at 4:26 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 6:03 AM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

I asked the Creator to take away my habit, The
Creator said, No. It is not for me to take away,
but for you to give up.

I asked The Creator to make my handicapped
child whole, The Creator said, No. His Spirit is
whole, his body is only temporary.

I asked The Creator to grant me patience. The
Creator said, No. Patience is a byproduct of
tribulations, it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked The Creator to give me happiness. The
Creator said, No. I will give your blessings;
Happiness is up to you.

I asked the Creator to spare me pain. The
Creator said, No. Suffering draws you closer to me.

I asked The Creator to make my Spirit grow. The
Creator said, No. You must grow on your own,
but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked The Creator for all the things that I
might enjoy in life. The Creator said, No.I will
give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked The Creator to help me LOVE others, as
much as He loves me. The Creator said.... Ahhhh,
finally you have the idea.


~Windfeather

Posted by Susan@Healing Journeys at 3:56 AM EST

Updated: Tuesday, 23 December 2008 6:09 AM EST

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink