By Flor B. Conopio
These days, if we want to remain in sanity amidst difficulties and seemingly endless predicaments that engulf and overwhelm us, we must learn and practice "active positivism," says Manila Bulletin columnist, Zenaida Amador, in one of her columns. According to her, active positivism is looking at the bright, not at the dark, side of life. The first thing that can lead us to active positivism is the counting of God's blessings in our individual lives. We need to audit and monitor the resources at our command. We need to find our what we could thank the Lord for instead of what we need to gripe and complain about.
Many times conflict arises in our relationship with one another when we focus on the weakness, and not on the strengths, of our fellowmen.
Active positivism is considering a person's potentials and possibilities instead of considering one's inadequacies. If we believe, truly believe, that each of us is created in God's image, then we should also believe that each one of us is possessed with the goodness and excellence that come from God.
When, therefore, we judge an individual and criticize him, do we not become judgmental and critical of God's creative handiwork? We also miss the opportunity to get a vision of the beauty of God which we can experience in the community of His people. This is because each of us is bequeathed with a goodness that comes from our Creator. Each of us is distinctly blessed in a different way. God's glory and character are revealed in each one of us' we only have to focus on the good in our individual selves.
This is possibly why the apostle Paul wants us to consider only the things that are "lovely, honest, pure and of good report" in our surroundings and in our fellowship with one another (Philippians 4:8). The apostle wants us to practice and experience active positivism.
I would not have enjoyed 35 years of unbroken service in my work if I had not in some way practiced active positivism. Let us each one practice active positivism.
These days, if we want to remain in sanity amidst difficulties and seemingly endless predicaments that engulf and overwhelm us, we must learn and practice "active positivism," says Manila Bulletin columnist, Zenaida Amador, in one of her columns. According to her, active positivism is looking at the bright, not at the dark, side of life. The first thing that can lead us to active positivism is the counting of God's blessings in our individual lives. We need to audit and monitor the resources at our command. We need to find our what we could thank the Lord for instead of what we need to gripe and complain about.
Many times conflict arises in our relationship with one another when we focus on the weakness, and not on the strengths, of our fellowmen.
Active positivism is considering a person's potentials and possibilities instead of considering one's inadequacies. If we believe, truly believe, that each of us is created in God's image, then we should also believe that each one of us is possessed with the goodness and excellence that come from God.
When, therefore, we judge an individual and criticize him, do we not become judgmental and critical of God's creative handiwork? We also miss the opportunity to get a vision of the beauty of God which we can experience in the community of His people. This is because each of us is bequeathed with a goodness that comes from our Creator. Each of us is distinctly blessed in a different way. God's glory and character are revealed in each one of us' we only have to focus on the good in our individual selves.
This is possibly why the apostle Paul wants us to consider only the things that are "lovely, honest, pure and of good report" in our surroundings and in our fellowship with one another (Philippians 4:8). The apostle wants us to practice and experience active positivism.
I would not have enjoyed 35 years of unbroken service in my work if I had not in some way practiced active positivism. Let us each one practice active positivism.
