Christian Living

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One thing I found out is this: today's news can be dangerous to your health! It's true especially when you're reading and watching news related to murder, terrorism, accidents, or calamities. These events can make you feel rage, discouragement, worry. They can make you feel weak and insecure. They're bad influences that may have a negative effect on your attitude or predisposition in life.

The kind of environment you're in will have an inevitable impact on you. How can you be positive and healthy if you're surrounded with people saying, "That's not going to work" or "You can't make it; you're not good enough!"

You might not have the capacity to change your environment. You can't control or change people's words or actions. But, you certainly can control your MIND. This is where visualization comes in. When I was a chess champion during my high school and college years, I visualized a lot. I used my imagination on the chessboard and the way I would turn out in tournaments. In many ways, it helped me win my games.

Use your imagination, just as you would when you're a little child. Imagine your grades getting higher, your pockets filled with abundance, your simple meal as fine dining gourmet, your home as a mansion. Just imagine. Unconsciously, your thoughts will transform the images into material reality!

If television or the newspapers can indirectly influence you just by reporting what's happening, imagine what influence people could have on you. These are the people that you see and meet everyday. These are the people you work with. These are the same people who are expressing their own points of view of what is good and what is bad.

When you were younger growing up in a negative family environment, you tend to acquire the traits and charcateristics of those in your family.

Many criminals or gangsters have been brought up by parents who abused or misguided them with the bad things in life. Through the years, they have developed vices instilled within themselves by the people around them in their family and immediate relatives or friends.

Let's try this case.

Pick a decent, kind person and mix him in a group of bad-mouthed persons. Expose him to cursing and swear words in the everyday language. What do you expect? Sooner or later, you'll discover that the decent, kind person has become like the one he's with all the time!

This just goes to say that anyone who joins in the company of a certain group cannot help but be influenced by the dominant personality or ethos of that group. So what can you do if you're surrounded by people who are a bad influence?

Surely, you can't just avoid people who are a bad influence. They'll think of you as a snob. Don't change the kind way you treat them. But simply learn how to discern and neutralize their negative, pessimistic comments and language use.

Sometimes, they would demand that you do what's against your principle. Stand firm with what you believe in. Do not let these negative people alter your convictions. You know that you are capable of achieving what they consider as impossible. If you have to suffer the ridicule, so be it. You will have the last laugh anyway.

Moreover, you should be with people who have the same positive principles and standards as you do. You'll be more supported and encouraged to continue pursuing your goals and dreams in life. You could even have a mentor who will prod you to greatness.

When I was doing a big project, I met a lot of negative influences and obstacles along the way. I almost quit. But I did not let these negative influences stop me or continue to discourage me from pursuing my academic goal.

Friend, you have the power to make your dreams a reality. Show the world what kind of stuff you're made of.

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