Postive.Mental.Attitude.

[michellewuensch]

We should take as a maxim never to be surprised at current difficulties, no more than at a passing breeze, because with a little patience we shall see them disappear. Time changes everything

Saint Vincent de Paul

[michellewuensch]

Another New Year

It feels like it was just yesterday that I was raising a glass of champagne to 2014. It’s hard to believe that 365 days have passed, and we are again in winter, toasting to a brand new year.

For me, New Year’s Eve and Day are more than just times to get together with family and friends, spend a lot of money on an extravagant night, consume one too many cocktails and blame bad decisions or lack of memory on alcohol, watch college football Bowl games, lounge around and vow to start the diet tomorrow, or wake up early to work-out and have a productive day. New Year’s Eve and Day are more than just times to set lofty personal and professional goals, make resolutions, or feel overwhelmed by the fact that it’s January 1, and your calendar is already full through June. More than anything, New Year’s Eve and Day cause me to reflect, month by month, on the past year.

As I take my magnifying glass to 2014, I am in awe of how my life has changed. What’s even more amazing, is that God had His hand in everything, and He continues to guide me each day. If you have a few minutes, take stock of your last year. Let this exercise energize and inspire you to make 2015 your best year yet, and trust that “Heaven’s got a plan for you,” (Swedish House Mafia, “Don’t You Worry Child”). Happy New Year! Positive Mental Attitude.

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“No one knows what this next year will bring, but one thing is sure, He will be with us and He is enough for every difficulty that may arise."

Amy Carmichael

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He Will Give You Rest

Today at my great uncle’s funeral, we sang the song, “Be Not Afraid.” As I solemnly joined my voice with the voices of my extended family, I realized the words of this common Christian memorial service hymn can offer solace to not only those who are grieving the loss of a loved one, but also people who are facing life’s many struggles. You shall cross the barren desert But you shall not die of thirst You shall wander far in safety Though you do not know the way. You shall speak your words in foreign lands And all will understand You shall see the face of God and live. Chorus Be not afraid I go before you always Come follow Me And I shall give you rest. If you pass through raging waters In the sea, you shall not drown If you walk amidst the burning flames You shall not be harmed. If you stand before the pow'r of hell And death is at your side Know that I am with you, through it all. Chorus Blessed are your poor For the Kingdom shall be theirs Blest are you that weep and mourn for one day you shall laugh. And if wicked men insult and hate you All because of Me Blessed, blessed are you! Chorus Whether you are mourning the death of someone, battling cancer, struggling to overcome an addiction, dealing with a recent break-up, trying to find a new job, feeling anxious about the future, or being hit in the face with any of life’s other curve balls, put your trust in God. Have faith that He is always with you and know He doesn’t give you more than you can handle. Pray to your Heavenly Father, and “Be not afraid.” Positive Mental Attitude.

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"Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

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For those of you who don’t know, the above clip is from the 2004 film, "13 Going on 30." This PG-13 romantic comedy, starring Jennifer Garner, is about Jenna Rink, a pre-teen girl who has a disastrous thirteenth birthday party. After the humiliating soirée, Jenna wishes to bypass her awkward teenage years and skip ahead about one and a half decades. With the help of a little magic wishing dust, Jenna wakes-up the next day as a thirty-year-old woman (Garner) with everything—cool apartment, stylish wardrobe, dream job, athlete boyfriend—that she ever wanted. But there’s still something missing; her childhood best friend, Matt (Mark Ruffalo). Thirty-year-old Jenna remembers Matt to be the boy who destroyed her thirteenth birthday party, and the man who is no longer a part of her life. But after tracking down the adult Matt, Jenna realizes he’s not the same person he was when they were younger, and she desperately wants “to go back to another time” to fix her big mistake. “If you were given one do-over, anything in your life, what would it be?” I’m sure you’ve contemplated the answer to that question once, if not several times. But just as Jenna’s mom (Kathy Baker), points out during the smiley-pancake breakfast scene in "13 Going on 30," mistakes help us learn “how to make things right.” Our slip-ups change the course of our lives, but I truly believe everything happens for a reason. Since we don't have any magic wishing dust to transport us forward or backward in time, we are forced to face all our shortcomings, embarrassments, and heartaches. Try to understand why some of your friendships, romantic relationships, diets, or career paths failed. Instead of dwelling on those past circumstances and decisions you cannot change, focus on learning from your faults and previous situations so you will act differently in the future. Positive Mental Attitude.

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“Success does not consist in never making mistakes, but in never making the same one a second time.”

George Bernard Shaw

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“What would you do if nothing stood in your way?” If you were to look at the writing on the front and back of this black bag, you would notice statements such as, “Elope with the next person I fall in love with,” “Get a unicorn tattoo,” “Learn every instrument,” and “Move to Paris and open a used and rare bookstore.” While these may not be your responses to the thought-provoking question, I’m sure you are able to come up with a few ambitions of your own. What is preventing you from realizing those dreams? Are those roadblocks real or imaginary? “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal…” (Thomas Jefferson). Positive Mental Attitude.

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"I've always found that anything worth achieving will always have obstacles in the way and you've got to have that drive and determination to overcome those obstacles on route to whatever it is that you want to accomplish."

Chuck Norris

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(Un)Silenced Ambitions

When you were five years old, how did you respond when someone asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Did your answer change when you turned 10, started high school, or went away to college? If so, was it because you became interested in different things and discovered new passions, or because you thought your childhood dream was unattainable? My sister has the gift of being able to work with children. She has incredible patience, the ability to simplify complex ideas for kindergartners, and a bubbly personality that attracts elementary students of all ages. My sister is also blest with an American-Idol-winning voice and sings almost as much as she talks. Although she briefly took voice lessons in junior high, starred in her eighth grade play, performed at several high school and college Variety Shows, she decided to pursue a career in teaching. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education and a teacher certificate in Early Education Childhood, my sister started substitute teaching at several of the local Catholic schools. But her love for music and burning desire to entertain was always in the back of her mind. A few weeks ago, my sister felt compelled to stop at one of the local guitar centers to inquire about guitar lessons. Long story short, she has her third session tomorrow night! My sister has a vision, and she has a plan on how to make her lifelong dream a reality. I’m so proud of her determination and willingness to use the amazing voice God has given her to touch people’s lives. Whether she knows it or not, she has inspired me to pursue some of my own silenced ambitions. Is your five-year-old self still holding on to that dream of what you wanted to be when you grew up? “Believe in your dreams. They were given to you for a reason,” (Katrina Mayer). Positive Mental Attitude.

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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Eleanor Roosevelt

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When I was cleaning my section at the end of my shift tonight at the restaurant, I found this yellow Post-It Note underneath one of my tables. I have no clue which customer accidently (or purposefully) dropped it, since several groups of people dined at that six-top throughout the evening. As I think back to all the guests who sat at that table, I am very curious as to the story behind this little reminder. Is the owner a non-believer who feels he is missing something in his life? I don't believe in coincidences. Maybe I was meant to find that buttercup-colored piece of paper so I would re-evaluate my priorities and focus on making Jesus a bigger part of my everyday life? Or perhaps I came across the wrinkled and ripped square so I would pray for all of tonight's customers? Then again, maybe the yellow Post-It Note wasn't meant for me at all...perhaps it was meant for you. Positive Mental Attitude.

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"Know Jesus, know peace. No Jesus, no peace."

Bumper Sticker

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This spring, my youngest sister will be confirmed in the Catholic Church. As her Confirmation sponsor, I am truly honored to spiritually walk with her on her faith journey, and I know this special relationship will only strengthen our sisterly bond. In preparation for this third Sacrament of Initiation, my sister and I attend monthly classes at our church ministry center with the other candidates and sponsors. During each class, the group listens to a parish leader—deacon, seminarian, youth ministry director, highly involved lay person—speak about subjects like the Sacraments, the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Peace and Justice, the Beatitudes, Images of God and the Church, and Prayer. This past Sunday’s class topic was Morality—beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior; the degree to which something is right and good. During the two-hour session, the speaker showed us a video of Chris Stefanick’s July 2013 presentation at a Steubenville Youth Conference in St. Louis. For those of you who don’t know, (because I didn’t), Chris Stefanick is an author, a columnist, keynote speaker, and “one of the most engaging young defenders of the Christian faith,” (Archbishop Charles J. Chaput). Stefanick’s entertaining presentation, “The Truth,” addressed Relativism—the belief that different things are true or right for different people or at different times. The thirty-seven-minute video opened my eyes and closed my mind on “the greatest problem of our time,” (Pope Benedict XVI). Yes, Stefanick tackles several controversial abstract issues, but I feel compelled to share his words with you and hope you make time to watch the entire clip. In Sunday’s Gospel, (Matthew 4:12-23), we heard that “as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. […] He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” Just as Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John to proclaim the Good News and become “fishers of men,” He calls each of us, by name, to follow in their footsteps. I’m casting my nets. Positive Mental Attitude.

[michellewuensch]

"The reason we have minds is so that they might close on things."

Chris Stefanick

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A Virtual Birthday Celebration

One year ago, an unemployed journalist used her gift of writing and her passion for positively affecting others, to create a blog. She never imagined that this personal website would become a unique platform for changing lives, nor did she realize that the simple phrase, “positive mental attitude,” would transform the way readers thought about their respective life circumstances. As I think about all the people who went out of their way to offer affirmative feedback or humbly tell me that my inspirational articles, quotes and songs provided light on their darkest days, I am motivated to keep sharing my joys and sorrows, triumphs and struggles, laughs and tears, and strengths and weaknesses. I hope you continue to find encouragement in my stories, enrichment in my quotes, and impetus in my music. I pray for each of you as you begin this brand new year, and I know that, “you have the potential to achieve the best life,” (Dr. Robert H. Schuller). Just as I quoted Dr. Schuller in my very first post on January 21, 2013, “tough times never last but tough people do!” Make 2014 your greatest year—seize every opportunity; achieve your goals; stay strong; and don’t you worry child, Heaven’s got a plan for you. Positive Mental Attitude.

[michellewuensch]

"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."

Bob Marley