Religion column: Children have worthy advice on overcoming adversity

Have you ever had the "what if's or what I call "stinking thinking?" It's the pits! It comes with all kinds of problems like overdue accounts, misunderstandings, or more bills than money. Thought misery thrives in negative environments. Miserable thoughts cause sadness and worries that bring on physical malfunctions.

Wrong thoughts rob happiness. The joy and gusto for life is wiped out and suddenly we find ourselves in depression.

Yet Proverbs 23:7 says "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…" (KJV)

I really had a "thought misery" when I had to have a wisdom tooth cut out, but I found Chapter 4:13 in Philippians: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (KJV)

I believe thought misery can be eliminated with strong faith and a firm determination. Along life's way I have observed happy people, especially the little people I taught. Children have many traits in common. I learned from those children how to have many happy days. Watch a happy child and you can learn a lot of things too. Here are some of those things they say:

"I tell my body I'm happy!"

"This is the best day of my life."

"I count my many happy days."

"I'm happy because I think I'm happy."

"When I'm nice to somebody, they're happy too!"

I learned even more than my students did. Would you help me learn these too? Here are some of those things to say to yourself:

"I count my many blessings."

"Failure is not in my vocabulary."

"I tell myself, 'Life is delicious!"

"Being happy makes me sing."

"I'm happy because I think happy thoughts."

"I bless others and that brings them happy too."

"Life was just waiting for you and me to be born."

"You too can appreciate life and live with purpose."

"Criticizing, murmuring or complaining are the pits!"

"I will think thoughts of health, not sickness."

"Good thoughts bring strength, vitality, endurance and stamina."

"I wouldn't have missed this world for anything."

"I am thankful for this day and I will rejoice in it."

"I speak words of prosperity, peace and politeness."

"I will be thankful for life and I will live it with gusto."

"Every day in every way I'm, getting better and better."

"Each day I arise I will say, 'Look out world. Here I come.'"

"I will overcome negative statements with positive ones."

"I am excited about life and can't wait until the next adventure."

"I will not think worrying thoughts, but those of joy."

"I'm getting rid of 'thought misery!"

Portales resident Joan Clayton is a retired teacher and published author. Her e-mail address is: [email protected]