“I never considered myself unique, but people are constantly telling me, ‘I am a miracle.’ To me, I was just an ordinary ‘guy’ with realistic goals and big dreams. I was a 19-year-old student at the University of Texas and well on my way toward fulfilling my ‘big dream’ of one day becoming an orthopedic surgeon.”  Michael Jordan Segal, MSW

How would you cope if your “big dream” were snatched from you with no hope of recovery?

That night the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!  (1 Kings 3:5; NLT)

A couple of times last week I wrote about the Law of Comparisons (aka the Law of Relativity).  Sometimes as I read about some of these universal laws and then turn around and try to write about them, I find myself amazed at the logic and wisdom they convey, but privately wonder how they would work with the “big” things in life.  You know what I mean?  It’s one thing to choose to look for the good with something that is relatively minor, i.e., more of a nuisance than a catastrophe, but what about a big, life altering events?  Obviously this kind of thinking has to move from your head to your heart so that it becomes automatic or instinctive.

I ran across a true story sent out by one of my mentors, Bob Proctor in his newsletter.  He passed along the story of a fellow named Michael Segal who wrote the following:

“Life is full of people who are not satisfied and not thankful for what they have. Many times people are constantly dwelling on what they have lost, rather than being satisfied and thankful for what they still have left. Believe me, I speak from experience.

“When I was 19 and well on my way to fulfilling my life-long dream of becoming a surgeon, I walked into a convenience store which was in the process of being robbed. One of the thieves shot me in the back of my head, leaving me for dead. However, I fooled everyone. Sure, I have my disabilities and I used to constantly dwell on the many things I had lost, being negative, saying, ‘Before I was shot I was athletic, now I can barely walk (with a significant limp), my arm is very weak, I speak somewhat slowly, my voice is hoarse. Before I was shot I could do 500 things really well, after the shooting, I can do only 200 things well. For a long time, I was constantly dwelling on the 300 things I had lost.’ However, eventually I began focusing on the 200 things I could still do. It wasn’t easy and it took me a long time, but refocusing one’s attitude is crucial — not merely for people shot in the head, not merely for people who are sick, but for everyone. Having a more positive attitude is vital and essential.

“One of my friends had a stroke. I would always try to encourage him by trying to get him to refocus on the positive. It was not easy but it was slowly working and he was improving. He still had a long way to go but he was getting there. He was always asking, ‘How long did it take you to walk? I hope I will be able to walk again.’

“I would say to him, ‘Everyone is different. Even though I have problems walking, my hopes and prayers are that one day you’ll be able to walk.’ With that statement I limped out of the hospital room.

“When I visited my friend the next week I immediately asked him to ‘tell me something good.’ He started by saying he had walked 60 feet with a cane in therapy, but just then his doctor (whom I knew) came in and asked how he was doing.

“‘Fine,’ replied my friend, ‘but I just want to be able to walk perfectly again — just like Mike.’ I stood there, a little shocked, but I said to myself, ‘He’s just started on the road to recovery. He’s beginning to think positive.’

“Another friend of mine once told me that he used to feel sorry when he would see people who needed walkers. However, I will never forget what he said after that: ‘I would give anything if my daughter (diagnosed with a possible brain tumor and currently needing a wheel chair) could progress to the point where she just needed a walker.’ He prays for that; I pray for that; and many other people are praying for that.

“Again, ‘Be thankful for what you have, and set your goals for higher things.’ The world is full of many horrible things, as well as many wonderful things. Sometimes a person is constantly looking at the ‘horrible’ things. However, my hopes are that they will be able to find the beauty in life. It’s there — if you look for it!”

Clearly, Michael Segal has demonstrated how effective this way of thinking really can be.  I’m so thankful that I have been blessed to learn and practice these laws on little things.  I can unequivocally testify that my attitude (and life) has transformed drastically over the last four or five years, and I (and everybody around me) is so grateful that it has.  Try it…it works!

BTW, Michael Segal was shot in the head during a robbery, and defied all odds by first surviving and then returning to college. He then earned two degrees with honors, married his high school sweetheart, Sharon, and became a father to their daughter Shawn. Mike is a social worker at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and an author (currently he has two book projects he’s working on: an autobiography and an anthology of his short stories — as well as very soon he will have a CD of some of his best stories available). He also is a popular inspirational speaker sharing his “recipe” for recovery, happiness, and success. For more information see the Link of the Day below.

Prayer Power
Lord, we are so grateful that You have given us the gift to manage our thoughts.  We further ask that You would give us the grace to instinctively manage them in a constructive way in time of great stress.

Link of the Day
Michael Segal’s Web Site

Blessings on you as you continue to practice making wise choices about what you’re thinking about.