On Thanksgiving Day, while enjoying guests that came to visit my daughter and son-in-law in Gilbert, Arizona, there was a lady there, a friend and former co-worker of my daughter. She had been laid off recently through no fault of her own — the company was changing directions and downsizing. She seemed very lost!
It was a pleasure to sit and chat with her, to discover whose voice was inside her head! She talked about how she was once an artist, having done engineering designs. Her art was on display and was being sold from a shop.
But during her success, she had a mild stroke, probably from overworking and not taking time for herself. We all must get away, take some time to rest and hear from God. Scripture reminds us: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)
As she and I continued to discuss her situation, I discovered that she did not have self-confidence and was feeling lost. Though I talked with her about monitoring her thoughts, I’m not sure if she really understood. Those of you who have followed my column understand what I mean. We are what we think.
There is a poem, “Thinking” by Walter D. Wintle, that says, “If you think you are beaten, you are; If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win, but think you can’t it’s almost a cinch you won’t. If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost, for out in the world we find success being with a fellow’s will; it’s all in the state of mind.”
It continues: “If you think you’re outclassed, you are: You’ve got to think high to rise. You’ve got to be sure of yourself before; You can ever win a prize. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, But soon or late the man who wins is the one who thinks he can.”
I poured from my heart everything I know about capturing one’s thoughts, sharing with her about getting on a boat without a sail and being tossed about the water, going wherever the wind blows her.
I asked her, “Would you get on a boat heading nowhere, without a sail, and you just decide to get onboard to see where you will land?” She said, “No, of course I wouldn’t!”
But that is exactly what she is doing when she seeks a job with no particular position in mind. Her resume is not written with any true goal; she is not working on her major definite purpose in life.
After spending time on this very subject, she said, “I’m too old, 64 years old now!” Wow, that really opened a door. I then said, “I’m 65 years old, soon to be 66 years old. Age is only a number. It is all in how you look at life. You can begin again at any age, reinvent yourself and become someone you’ve never been before.”
As you have read in my column many times, I gave the same advice to the young lady. Listen to Wayne Dyer’s motivational series, “Change The Way You Look At Things, The Things You Look At Change.”
And I almost forgot to mention, the woman is white, petite with a beautiful shoulder-length, professional haircut. And she was well-dressed. No matter how she looked on the outside, it was what she thought of herself that mattered — it happens within.
Lyndia Grant is a radio talk show host on WYCB (1340 AM), Fridays at 6 p.m. Visit her website at www.lyndiagrant.com. Contact her at 202-558-2107 or lyndiagrant@gmail.com.