Choose the right thoughts

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col 3:2 NIV

Marcus Aurelius said, “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” Unfortunately, you can’t stop thinking wrong thoughts just by trying harder. But you can do this: You can “set your mind.” The most basic control you have when it comes to your mind is your ability to choose what you pay attention to. At any given moment, it’s within your capacity to turn your thoughts in one direction or another. That helps explain why two people in the exact same set of circumstances can have completely different perspectives and experiences. The following excerpts from a dog’s diary and a cat’s diary may make you smile. But hopefully they will also make you stop and think about the difference your attitude can make. Dog’s Diary: 8:00 a.m. Ate dog food. My favorite thing! 9:00 a.m. Went for a car ride. My favorite thing! 9:40 a.m. Walked in the park. My favorite thing! 10:30 a.m. Got rubbed and petted. My favorite thing! 12:00 p.m. Ate lunch. My favorite thing! 1:00 p.m. Played in the grass. My favorite thing! 3:00 p.m. Wagged my tail. My favorite thing! 5:00 p.m. Ate a treat. My favorite thing! 7:00 p.m. Played ball. My favorite thing! 8:00 p.m. Watched TV with my people. My favorite thing! 11:00 p.m. Slept on the bed. My favorite thing! Now let’s look at the cat. Cat’s Diary: Day 983 of my imprisonment. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre dangling objects. The one thing that helps me carry on is my dream of escape. Two critters…similar situations…totally different experiences. What made the difference? One chose the right thoughts and the other didn’t.

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