New International Version (NIV)
Final Exhortations
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Romans 12 1-2
New International Version (NIV)
A Living Sacrifice
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Positive Intelligence
Shirzad Chamine
Page 122-3
By positive and desirable feelings, we mean all the feelings generated in the Sage mode. In the Sage's Empathize mode, these feelings would include compassion, empathy, and forgiveness. In the Explore mode, they would include curiosity, awe, and wonder. In Innovate mode, you would feel the great joys of creativity. In Navigate mode, you would feel grounded and centered in your deeper sense of values, meaning, and purpose. And in your Activate mode, you would feel the power, resolve, and satisfaction of taking pure action without Saboteur [the Judge, etc.] interference.
The Happiness Advantage
Shawn Achor
Page 30
As you're about to read over the next seven sections, studies have found numerous ways we can rewire our brains to be more positive, creative, resilient, and productive--to see more possibility wherever we look. Indeed, if our thoughts, daily activities, and behaviors can change our brain, the great question becomes not if, but now much change is possible?
If one reads through the above quotations, it is possible to discern a similar view of the good--namely a mind transformed and renewed by transcendent happiness--a happiness that transcends the anxiety, fear, and guilt of the primeval world. These points of view share so much in common that it is difficult to conclude other than that the mindset of Christianity at its best did much over the years to contribute to the flourishing of culture and creativity. Even those who assert there is no God must nevertheless concede that the mental state of faith is in concert with the development of positive intelligence and is consistent with extensive laboratory findings regarding the fortuitous operation of the rejoicing human mind.
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