I'm sure you have heard about Pandora's Box, but do you know its origin? Or, more importantly do you have one in your life that is having a negative impact on you, your loved ones and your future?
Pandora's Box – in Greek mythology, the first woman, who was sent by the gods with a jar full of evils in order to avenge Prometheus's theft of fire. She opened the jar out of curiosity, thus releasing the evils into the world.
You would be amazed how a Pandora's Box in your life (or the contents of your personal one may be influencing your life).
A few of the items in the proverbial box are; fear, hate, anger, jealousy, disappointment, envy, greed and many more, but the question is – which ones fill your box that you either keep hidden from the world or drive your actions, attitudes, beliefs, goals or decisions?
It's a proven medical fact that people who are driven by negative emotions, thoughts or mindsets are on a path of emotional, physical or even financial self-destruction, however most are in such denial that they refuse to accept this fact or the consequences over time of these attitudes or behaviors.
How about a paradigm shift? Why not make a change in your Pandora's Box – see it as having two sections with two separate lids. One with all of the negative issues and emotions connected with fear (as stated above) and one with all of the positive ones such as; joy, confidence, hope, faith, love, gratitude, appreciation, happiness, success, peace and trust.
Here's the secret to a happy, successful, contented life – keep the negative portion locked (for good) and leave the positive section open all of the time.
The benefits –
For starters if you always bring a positive perspective to life's issues, challenges and achievements regardless of your circumstances you will be amazed at the positive impact they will have on every area of your life. I'm not saying that some of life's circumstances don't cause discouragement, disappointment, stress or anxiety, but what if you could see everything, including the negatives in a positive light? "Tim, you are crazy, don't you understand the impact of losing a job, a loved one, a career, a business or health has on a person's life?"
Yes, I understand all of these, as during my life I have experienced all of them, but in the end how we interpret our circumstances always leaves us with a choice – to focus on the darkness or see the light, to feel gratitude for what we have and not focus on what we have lost and accept that life happens and there is often nothing we can do when tragedy strikes, but surrender, move on and learn and grow from our adversities.
Granted this is not always an easy process, believe me it has taken me many years and a great deal of pain, growth, study, prayer and faith to finally accept this life approach, but in the end I believe it will serve our future in a more positive way if we can learn to see all of life as not an event, but a process.
What's in your Pandora's Box that is currently causing you turmoil, confusion, pain, grief, sadness, despair or some other negative attitude or mindset? Take another look in your box – it has another section, one which you may not have been aware of up to this point in your life, but believe me this section filled with positives is just waiting for you to open it and live your life in some way better or different. Or, you can continue to let the negative section dominate you – It's a choice my friend.
"We are not permitted to choose the frame of our destiny. But what we put in to it is ours."
Dag Hammarskjold
In His Service, Tim