Things usually turn out how we view them from the start.
So if you perceive something to fail from the start, it will most likely fail. If you have an optimistic viewpoint, it will most likely succeed. This past week, U Squad had 3 long travel days from Cambodia to Australia, with an
overnight stop in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. It consisted of a long bus ride, a
brief bus ride, and 3 flights… Keep in mind we are a group of 40+.
It was not easy, but
we choose to be optimistic on this venture of crossing the Pacific Ocean.
We all know that a positive attitude is an essential
quality… But how essential?
I believe a positive attitude will make or break our time and
impact HERE on Earth. More often than not, we are NOT in control of life’s
circumstances around us. We cannot simply dodge the ‘negative’ challenges. What
we CAN do is control how
we REACT to them.
Here are 4 select few ‘Bad’ Circumstances that a Positive Attitude
overcame on these 3 travel days:
crossed the border and been in Vietnam for maybe ten minutes when… WHAM! A
Motorcyclist collided with the side of our bus & laid out his bike. The
situation immediately turned serious when the gentleman was lying still on the
road. We did the only thing we could. We started praying God’s divine
protection and healing over this man. He walked away with only minor injuries.
What could have been a tragedy, turned into prayer over a stranger, and
witnessing God’s hand in his protection.
Ho Chi Minh, we had to be out of our lodging by noon. This left us with 3 hours
of downtime before we could head to the airport. Even though we had nowhere to
plant ourselves, this was not viewed as an ‘inconvenience’. It simply forced
our group of 40 get out of the comfort zone of the hotel, spread out around the
capitol city, and interact with the Vietnamese community.
patiently at the airport for 4 hours waiting for our Airline to open, when we
were suddenly informed that we did not have the Australian Vista’s necessary to
get our boarding passes. With calm attitudes and no help from the airline, we
discovered for a $20 fee, we could simply apply online and be instantly
approved to leave the country. Not only was the vista problem solved, but the
Airline respected our reaction, and in return they were clearly lenient on our 20
kilogram checked bag weight limit. (Which I know I was over.)
our traveling to Whitsunday, Australia included being stuck in the Darwin
Airport for quite literally 24 hours. We could have spent our layover in a
hotel, but that cost too much money. This could have been an opportune time to
be grumpy & go stir crazy. After all we were on day 3 of travel. Instead of
dwelling on the negative, we took turns adventuring outside, exploring the
airport, and resting on our sleeping pads. I basically played Curious George
for a day.
These
situations had positive outcomes because we viewed them positively from the
start.
These 4 examples are minor, especially compared to the bigger
issues around the world. At the exact same time I was having these minor travel
hiccups, Japan was having a deadly Earthquake. What about those people?! What
about the death of a loved one?! To be blunt, these BIG life situations can be
handled the exact same way. Circumstances cannot be controlled or changed, but the Attitude can. Positivity brings out
the good, and negativity points out and fuels only bad.
What if we viewed natural disasters as opportunities to
reach out?! What if death was a celebration of life, and opportunity to
influence?! It won’t change the bad situation, but it could change the outcome.
——-
It has been laid
on my heart this week to pray for hearts to be opened & lives to be changed
when ‘life disasters’ are thrown our way. Positivity overcomes dwelling on the negative
and letting circumstances control our mind & actions.
