*Originally appearing in Issue #58, Sept 2019 (Sugar Ray Leonard Cover), Page 23
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, ...break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” –Psalm 98:4
We are all familiar with soundtracks, they set the emotional tone of a scene. As soon as the music enters our ears, our mood naturally corresponds. It could be suspenseful, comedic, or heroic. We feel the emotions and begin to anticipate exactly what the storyteller has intended.
Similar to the effect a soundtrack has on a scene, so does everything reflect our attitude. You mentally and verbally influence everything in your world. Everything around you reflects your attitude toward it and reacts accordingly.
“Bless a thing and it will bless you, curse a thing and it will curse you.”
Your attitude toward life determines life’s attitude toward you. Simply put, “Bless a thing and it will bless you, curse a thing and it will curse you.” Therefore, gratitude is our go-to ace in the hole.
Gratitude, especially in the form of appreciation, is the shortcut to good health, happiness, love, prosperity and success. Plato agreed when he declared, “A grateful mind is a great mind which to itself attracts great things.”
Whatever you appreciate, appreciates. It goes up in value. This is true in all areas of life. Whatever you show appreciation to in thought, word, or deed, will become a golden link in the chain of your good. Appreciation is the outpouring of love. It is directing the prospering power of love with intention.
Unfortunately, when it comes to appreciation we tend to leave the one in most need of our appreciation out in the cold. That one is our self.
Beginning each day with inspiring readings, affirmative prayer and meditation is a wonderful way to get the ball rolling. Appreciating ourselves and our affairs releases the spiritual power within us. I conclude my morning prayer and meditation time by jotting down any affirmative thoughts or quotes that inspired me in my journal, aka my ‘joy’nal.
Even though I’ve been doing this practice for some time, on a recent morning I felt uninspired and overwhelmed. I knew better than to launch into my day feeling this way. I grabbed my sketchpad and began to doodle. A drawing of a man holding a transistor radio above his head took shape.
When completed, the thought came, “I get to choose today’s soundtrack.” I began to contemplate what that meant to me. It’s true, I get to choose the music that plays in my head. It can be a motivational anthem like, “Eye of the Tiger” from the Rocky film or a jolly ditty like, “Put One Foot in Front of the Other” from the stop-motion Christmas classic, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
It’s not always easy to control our thoughts but we can control our words. Unity Founder, Charles Fillmore, reminded us, “You can drive away the gloom of disappointment by resolutely singing a sunshine song.”
Joy is indeed the strength of the Lord. My negative mental commentary doesn’t stand a chance against the theme to “The Jeffersons” or “The Partridge Family.” As quickly as my mood elevates so does my perspective. A joyful mind is attractive and inspiring ideas flock to it.
With this renewed attitude, all that seemed insurmountable earlier in the morning began to appear relatively simple. Looking back, as a result of my buoyant mood, everything that needed to get done that day was accomplished by me with effortlessness and ease.
It may seem too simple or silly, but the good news is that this stuff works for anyone willing to give it a try. Ask yourself what kind of messages have been floating through your mind lately. If they are not uplifting and encouraging, it may be time to choose a new soundtrack and start singing along to a feel-good song.
“To overcome strong negative feelings, strengthen those that are positive.” -Shi Wuling, Buddhist nun
Artist Darrell Fusaro is a decorated U.S. Coast Guard veteran and author of “What if Godzilla Just Wanted a Hug?” For more information visit www.ThisWillMakeYouHappy.com