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(9/22/02)
"When I was much younger there was a popular song which said,
'Accentuate the positive.' Attitude has more to do with personality,
with attractiveness, with getting along with others than does any
other attribute. The scripture states that 'as [a man] thinketh in his
heart, so is he' (Prov. 23:7)." — Gordon B. Hinckley, "A Conversation
with Single Adults," "Ensign," Mar. 1997, p. 60
(9/23/02)
"We can learn that at the center of our agency is our freedom to
form a healthy attitude toward whatever circumstances we are placed
in! Those, for instance, who stretch themselves in service-though
laced with limiting diseases-are often the healthiest among us! The
Spirit can drive the flesh beyond where the body first agrees to go!"
— Neal A. Maxwell, "Notwithstanding My Weakness," "Ensign," Nov. 1976,
p. 14
(9/24/02)
"In life, we have to be careful to monitor our personal attitude.
Are we positive, loyal, and trustworthy in all that we do? Don't be
negative. Strengthen and lift those around you. Do not let them pull
you down." — Robert D. Hales, "Return with Honor," "Ensign," June
1999, p. 9
(9/25/02)
"The same pattern is followed to overcome your entrenched habit.
Decide to stop what you are doing that is wrong. Then search out
everything in your life that feeds the habit, such as negative
thoughts, unwholesome environment, and your companions in mischief.
Systematically eliminate or overcome everything that contributes to
that negative part of your life. Then stop the negative things
permanently." — Richard G. Scott, "Finding the Way Back," "Ensign,"
May 1990, p. 75
(9/26/02)
"Consider, for instance, the feelings of inferiority which most
young people experience from time to time. These can be overcome by
taking hold of positive thoughts with which our minds abound. That I
am a child of God is such a positive thought. This being true, I have
within me the seeds of godhood and the potential to become like my
Heavenly Father if I keep his commandments. Does it matter if at this
moment I am less than perfect? What does matter is that I am trying
hard to keep the commandments, which is the sure road to perfection."
— Francis M. Gibbons, "Mind over Matter," "New Era," Jan. 1989, p. 6
(8/25/05)
"I am asking that we stop
seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am
suggesting that as we go through life we 'accentuate the positive.'
I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still
voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment
virtue and effort. I am not asking that all criticism be silenced.
Growth comes of correction. Strength comes of repentance. Wise is
the man who can acknowledge mistakes pointed out by others and
change his course.
"What I am suggesting is that each of us turn from the negativism
that so permeates our society and look for the remarkable good among
those with whom we associate, that we speak of one another's virtues
more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replace
pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man
and was prone to speak critically, my father would say: 'Cynics do
not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve.'" -
Gordon B. Hinckley, "The
Continuing Pursuit of Truth," Ensign, Apr. 1986, 2, 4
11/29/05
"The news media, radio, television, newspapers, national
magazines, and many other things we hear and read, bring to us
depressing, negative thoughts. We are constantly reminded of crime,
war, riots, divorce, theft, murder, death, disease, vulgarity,
pornography, strikes, short skirts and long hair, marijuana, hunger,
birth control, LSD, corruption in government, and even questionable
politics. A few days ago, I examined every article on the first few
pages of the newspaper. Every article I read expressed a negative
thought or a depressing situation. There was nothing to add a cheerful
note, a positive or uplifting thought, or a hope for the future.
"Stepping out of a negative world into such an atmosphere of love and
a positive hope for the future, not only in mortality but exaltation
in eternity, is known only by a small minority. How blessed we are for
an understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His gospel of love
encourages us to look upward and not down, to look for the good in
life and not the bad, to seek the positive and not the negative.
"Negative thinking has ruined many lives. Persons who might otherwise
have been successful have been defeated because their thinking was
negative." - "The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter," edited by Clyde
J. Williams, p.75
9/3/09
“Why
is it that as humans we tend to emphasize the negative when there is
so much to be positive about? We not only constantly criticize our
children and each other, find fault, are very judgmental, and often
seek out and build up people's weaknesses and failings rather than
their strengths and successes, but in our own personal life-styles
there are those of us who are incessant, chronic worriers. We worry
about all the negative things that could happen, but usually don't,
rather than positively trying to face problems with some amount of
faith and hope of success.” – Paul H. Dunn,
“By Faith and Hope All Things Are Fulfilled,” “Hope,” p. 83
3/11/10
“Now,
of course, life is serious. Children must be taught, bills must be
paid, we must live righteously—it is the Lord’s counsel to us. We
can’t help but worry sometimes; there are and always will be
never-ending negatives existing all around us which must be faced,
dealt with, and solved. But I wonder if the constant bombardment of
dilemmas and challenges and the often seemingly hopeless situations,
both personal and nationwide, don’t frustrate, discourage, and depress
us sometimes to the point where our minds and attitudes are distracted
from the very principles that would allow us to rise above the
negative and find the positive answers we need.
“In spite of the many negative occurrences in life, there are those who seem to have the knack of seeing the positive side. A young businessman was opening a new branch office, and a friend sent a floral arrangement to help celebrate the occasion. When the friend arrived at the opening, he was appalled to find the wreath bore the inscription ‘Rest in Peace.’ Angry, he later complained to the florist. After apologizing, the florist said, ‘Look at it this way. Somewhere today a man was buried under a wreath that said, ‘Good luck in your new location.’’” - Paul H. Dunn, “By Faith and Hope, All Things Are Fulfilled,” Ensign (CR), May 1987, p. 73
8/28/12
How to perform positively? Easy:
eliminate all negative words and phrases from your vocabulary. Refuse
to think negatively, for as a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov.
23:7). Refuse also to speak negatively. Now you have become an
optimist rather than a pessimist. There is a big difference between an
optimist and a pessimist—one is positive, a believer; the other is
negative, a doubter. The optimist, as you probably know, is a person
who, when he wears out his shoes, just figures he’s back on his feet.
The pessimist says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” The optimist
says, “I’ll see it when I believe it.” - Hartman Rector, Jr., "Following
Christ to Victory," Ensign (CR) May 1979
2/18/17
“Things will work out” may well be President Hinckley’s most
repeated assurance to family, friends, and associates. “Keep
trying,” he will say. “Be believing. Be happy. Don’t get
discouraged. Things will work out.” – Jeffrey
R. Holland, “President
Gordon B. Hinckley: Stalwart and Brave He Stands,” Ensign (CR)
June 1995