Positive Thinking Book: Silver Boxes

Silver Boxes: The Gift of Encouragement by Florence Littauer, Word Publishing, Dallas, 1989. 

This is a fascinating book about treating others with kindness.  What she says is that our "words should be like silver boxes with bows on top."  That is the basic philosophy.  She adds a personality assessment, to give some warning that we are not all the same, and sometimes, with our different natures, we may offend someone without realizing it.  She talks of four personality types:
Sanguine the popular person, Choleric the powerful person, Melancholy the perfect person and Phlegmatic the peaceful person.  We can have strengths and or weaknesses in these areas.  All personality types are important.  There are some who have a combination.  We are all unique. 

Silver Boxes was put into a poem for this book.  The poem summarizes the theme.

Book Review: Storms of Perfection by Andy Andrews

 Storms of Perfection: In Their Own Words by Andy Andrews, Lightning Crown Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1991.

Sheri and I were introduced to Andy Andrews and this book at an Amway conference.  He is a very funny guy and tells some motivational stories.  The premise of the book is that 50 successful people were asked to send a letter about their greatest problem or rejection in becoming successful.  The letters were then included in this book.  50 people from all walks of life--entertainers, athletes, gymnasts, entrepreneurs,  spelling bee champion submitted letters that were put directly in the book.  Published in 1991 some have now passed on.  Some you would recognize, Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Bart Starr, Kenny Rogers, Orville Redenbacher. Others are more obscure.  SOme of the stories you would expect, while others are unexpected

Mr. Andrews introduces the book with a story.  His father had taken him to the woods for a hike.  Everything was dry, too dry.  Then a sudden storm, a downpour.  It was frightful with wind and lightning. However after the whole scene had changed.  There was water in the pond, water for green plants, birds were singing.  His father explained "In fact son, all of us are better off now than we were and hour ago.  Just because of the storm.  What looked like the worse--turned out to be the best.  It was a storm of Perfection." 

This story makes this book priceless, along with the stories told.

10 Commandments of Human Relations

This is found in Legacy: Daughter of Utah Pioneers Newsletter, Winter 2008

1. Speak to people.  There is nothing so nice as a cheerful word of greeting.
2. Smile at people.  It takes 72 muscles to frown, and only 14 to smile.
3. Call people by name.  The sweetest music to anyone's ears is the sound of his or her own name.
4. Be friendly.  If you would have friends, you need to be one.
5. Be cordial.  Speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure.
6. Be genuinely interested.  People want to know that you care about what they have to say.
7. Be generous with praise.  Affirmation is uplifting to a person.  Be cautious with you criticisms.
8. Be considerate.  Feelings are hurt rather easily.  Be aware of that fact and don't be rude--even if you disagree.
9. Give service.  It's more fun to give than to receive.  You'll make somebody's day.
10. Add to these a sense of humor, a big dose of patience and a dash of humility, and you will be rewarded many fold.

Positive Thinking Book Report: Skill With People

This is an interesting booklet which I have from my Amway days.  It talks about how to be good at selling, but the principles can apply to many other situations.  It is written by Les Giblin.  He points out that people would rather talk about themselves than about anything else.  The focus of interactions should be on what the other person has to say.  It talks about the need to praise, but it must be sincere and it should focus on the act and not the person.  In like fashion criticism should be made in privacy, should start with a compliment, should be impersonal (focus on the act not the person), should supply the answer (the right way to do it), ask for cooperation, criticize each offense only once, and finish on a friendly note.  In dealing with people a grateful attitude is also essential.  Mean it when you say thank you, and say it clearly and distinctly, thank people by name, and look them in the eye when you thank them.  This little pamphlet is a good thing to consult frequently to keep you brain in the right place in working with others.  And to foster an attitude of gratitude.

Video Review: Andy Andrews: The Seven Decisions

Andy Andrews is one funny man.  He is also a very good motivational speaker.  He started out as a comedian, but has now written motivational books as well as become a motivational speaker.  I thoroughly enjoyed his presentation on the seven decisions.  These decisions are:
The Buck Stops Here:  Until we take responsibility for where we are, we have no power to make our situation better.
I Will Seek Wisdom: We must take responsibility for filling our minds with information that will improve ourselves, and in like way be careful of letting negative thoughts into our brains.
I am a Person of Action: Andrews told the stories of people who made decisions.  I love the story of Joshua Chamberlain, whose command to charge changed the battle of Gettysburg, and very possible the outcome of the Civil War.
I Have a Decided Heart:  Analysis is to lead to a decision.  Decision leads to action, and we should be committed to the decisions we make.
Today, I Will Choose to be Happy: The biggest key to happiness is to be grateful.  I will have a grateful heart, and thereby be happy.
I Will Greet this Day with a Forgiving Spirit: It is important to forgive others as quickly as possible; even if they don't deserve it; even if they don't ask.  I will also forgive myself.
I Will Persist Without Exception.  The without exception is key.  It is possible to persist, and then quit.  However if the persistence is without exception, then success will eventually come.
Andy Andrews gave the third rule last: I Am a Person of Action.  He did this on purpose, saying it is the most important.  He talked of the butterfly effect or law of sensitive dependency on initial condition.  In this theory, a small action can snowball until it has a tremendous effect.  Andrews illustrated this by talking of Chamberlain at Gettysburg, and also George Washington Carver.  He showed how decisions we make now can have tremendous results.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndPZVGwaRww 
The Butterfly Effect

I watched the bonus material.  Part was a question and answer session.  Someone asked, what is the most important lesson you want to teach your sons.  With out hesitation he answered, "That I love their mother."  He was so sincere, and so quick, I felt guilty I may not have responded so quickly, and that maybe I have not taught my children this lesson.  Some day I need to give up pride and selfishness, and make sure my kids get this message.

Positive Thinking Book: The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters by Andy Andrews, Simple Truths LLC, Naperville, Illinois, 2009.   

This book presents the idea that everything we do has an effect on others.  Mr. Andrews presents a compelling story about the influence of the butterfly effect, and how it bounces from one person to the next--the effect you have on one, will effect the effect that person has on the next and so on and so on.  This book inspires all of us to be better, more gracious to others.  I recommend anything of Andy Andrews.               

**Motivational Book: Skill With People

This is an interesting booklet by Les Giblin which I have from my Amway days.  It talks about how to be good a selling, but the principles can apply to many other situations.  It is written by Les Giblin.  He points out that people would rather talk about themselves than about anything else.  The focus of interactions should be on what the other person has to say.  It talks about the need to praise, but it must be sincere and it should focus on the act and not the person.  In like fashion criticism should be made in privacy, should start with a compliment, should be impersonal (focus on the act not the person), should supply the answer (the right way to do it), ask for cooperation, criticize each offense only once, and finish on a friendly note.  In dealing with people a grateful attitude is also essential.  Mean it when you say thank you, and say it clearly and distinctly, thank people by name, and look them in the eye when you thank them.  This little pamphlet is a good thing to consult frequently to keep you brain in the right place in working with others.

**Book review: Outliers: The Story of Success

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, Back Bay Books, New York, 2008.

This is a different positive thinking book than any I have found.  The bottom line of this book is that the reasons for someone to be successful can be illusive; however he did say 10,000 hours is key.  Those who have become successful have spent 10,000 hours perfecting what they do, whether it is computers, or a sport, or music, or lawyering.  It takes time for those success thoughts to rise to the top.  However it says sometimes the thing that gives us those hours can be by chance, the year we were born, the month you were born, your way of getting experience etc.  It also sounds like he takes President Obama's opinion, "You didn't build that."  So in the end, I don't know what to think of this book.  Although the story of the Beatles and Bill Gates were very interesting.  I also like the bit about the Chinese and hard work.

Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination: J.K. Rowling

The Fringe Benefits of Failure by: J.K. Rowling, Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2008.
The title of this book says it all.  This is a short book of the commencement address delivered by J.K. Rowling at Harvard University 2008.  She talks about failure vs success, and different definitions for each.  How her greatest fear was to be a failure, and at age 30 most people would have called her just that.  However she is now the author of the most read fantasy books in history.  By imagination, you would think the author of fantasy books would be talking of the ability to write or tell stories or something.  However she is actually talking about the ability of people to empathize with others.   She draws upon her personal experiences working for Amnesty International.  We can feel the pain of other people we have never met.  She feels this is invaluable, and unique to us as humans.   Two quotes with this regard, "They can think themselves into other people's places" vs "They can refuse to know."  Then the conclusion is that "As is a tale so is life: not how long it is but how good it is, is what matters."

**Positive Thinking Book: Ask...(LIfe's Most Important Answers Are Found in Asking the Right Questions)

This little book has a long title.  It goes on to ask 244 questions for an individual to make sure their thinking is on the right track.  It divides the questions into three sections:  Looking Inward, Looking Outward and Looking Upward.  Looking inward explores our self talk.  DO we ask ourselves the right questions so as to be ready to step out when opportunity comes.  Looking outward concerns our relationships with others.  Looking upward concerns our relationship with God.  Is prayer a regular habit? Are we Grateful?  Do we do what God asks?  Are we willing to ask, How can I help you God?
A very good book and can be reread to seek further inspiration.  It is written by John L. Mason.

**The Starfish

The Starfish

I first heard this story from W Mitchell at an Amway conference.  It made an impression with me then and I still like it.  I hope to make a difference to the one.
The Starfish

There was a young man walking down a deserted beach just before dawn.  In the distance he saw a frail old man.  As he approached the old man, he saw him picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the sea.  The starfish had been washed ashore by a storm.  The young man gazed in wonder as the old man again and again threw the small starfish from the sand to the water.  He asked him, “Why do you spend so much energy doing what seems to be a waste of time?”  The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun.  “But there must be thousands of beaches and millions of starfish,” exclaimed the young man, “How can your effort make any difference?”  The old man looked down at the small starfish in his hand and as he threw it to safety in the sea said…… “It makes a difference to this one.”
 Adapted from Loren Eiseley