Have you ever dreamed that you’re running to catch a train? Although the train is moving away, you keep on running towards it – you keep on trying to catch it. How does the dream end? That rather depends on you as the dreamer. It’s quite possible that you persevere. You keep going. You make it on board – because you never give up.
For many individuals, the “rail line” leading to health, happiness or success, has not been straight or smooth. To a greater or lesser degree, they’ve experienced difficult periods in their lives. Yet they weren’t railroaded into giving up on chasing their dream of good health or a better life. No matter how difficult the challenge in reaching the desired destination, they found ways and means to keep moving full-steam ahead.
● Believe you can
Nothing is worse than believing that you can’t be well. Many years ago I was told that I’d always be a migraine sufferer. I didn’t accept that verdict. I found freedom, and have remained free from headaches ever since. It might seem simplistic, but I beat discouragement by sticking to these reassuring words, “All things are possible to them that believe” and “There’s no such word as can’t”. These “can do” reminders convinced me that good health was achievable. The “how to” of implementing this rather radical notion, is illustrated in a much-loved children’s story “The engine that thought it could”.
Asked to pull a heavy train up a steep grade, several experienced engines said they couldn’t do it. A new and shiny engine disagreed. It said, “I-think-I-can”. Repeating these words over and over, it reached the summit. It then rushed towards its destination triumphantly declaring, “I-thought-I-could. I-thought-I-could”.
TIP: Believe in the power of health-filled, confident thinking. Stoke up the engine of courage, persistence and positivity. Move from “I-think-I-can” to “I-know-I-can”. This is much more than wishful thinking. It’s a positive statement of truth. Accepting it, can move you to believe that you’re capable of being an “I can”, healthy person.
● Be inspired by the achievements of others.
If you’re a fan of the TV program X Factor, then you’ll no doubt be aware of the fifteen year old Australian girl who has been in over 100 foster homes, and yet is now a contestant on the show. What an inspiration! There are countless ordinary people like her, who never gave up their dream for a better life, and in so doing, turned their desire into a reality. One inspiring woman, who overcame illness and personal tragedy, went on to author a best-selling, self-help book on health and healing. Some 140 years later, her wellness-producing, life-changing ideas continue to benefit people around the world. This has included three generations of women in my family.
TIP: To negate hopelessness and discouragement, allow yourself to be heartened and inspired by everyday people who have made the grade. Keep your dream in motion. Don’t let the will to succeed run out of steam. Face adversity “head on”. Never give up the hope of achieving good health.
● Keep on going
When life is tough and you just plain want to give up, it’s time to enact the famous quote “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” This call to draw on an inner core strength, to be resilient, keep going and not quit, is echoed in advice by staff at the Mayo Clinic. It’s a reminder that everyone can be mentally strong – perhaps more than they think. Such strength of mind doesn’t have to be acquired. It’s inbuilt. However, it does need to be exercised. It’s possible for anyone to stand their ground, refuse to give into thoughts of discouragement or failure, and move forward to a better place.
TIP: Don’t be de-railed by self-pity. Keep thought on track. Mentally forge ahead. It’s possible to find healthy ways to invigorate thinking and to keep going. Many who’ve made the grade, said it took persistence, perseverance, determination and courage. They took a never-say-die attitude, and never, ever gave up. What was the result? They caught the train to happiness, health and success and rode it all the way to their desired destination.
This article also appeared on The Wellness Wire – an Internet daily inspired to help forward lifestyles of health, happiness, and longevity, and a peaceful, just, sustainable world.
I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
Thank you for your strong and very helpful comments, Beverly. They were perfectly timed to meet a need. I have always loved the story about the engine that thought it could, and it was good to be reminded of its message.
With love.
Thank you Carol for your comment. I’m so glad that you enjoyed the story of the engine that thought it could. I’ve always loved it too. It is possible to achieve good things and to have good health. It takes persistence and perseverance, but we can do it. Never give up!
Hi Bev
Thanks for the link (One inspiring woman…) to the Mary Baker Eddy Library. It’s brilliant isn’t it! We visited it when in the USA recently and wished we had been able to spend longer exploring the facilities. The link allows us to do that at home. Thanks for your comments. I too found healing of debilitating migraines through thoughtfully reading the book Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures (linked above). We don’t have to accept the body’s prognosis of suffering. What great news that is!
Thank you Kerri for your comment. So pleased to know that you’ve been inspired by the woman who never gave up and was able to help so many others with her ideas. How excellent that you gained freedom from migraine headaches too. It just goes to show what can be achieved when you embrace healing ideas and stick with them. Health and healing is, as you say, good news.
Beverly, thank you for these wise and encouraging words. Yes, I too have experienced healing of physical problems such as headaches and chest pain by using the ideas in Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy. It’s a life-changing book.
Thank you Deborah for your comment. It’s good to know that you persisted in staying on the track to freedom and healing …and achieved success. Good work. You’re an example of what can be accomplished when you never give up.
Many thanks for sharing another collection of encouraging ideas. Like you, I also felt very humbled while viewing a recent preview clip of TV auditions for Australia’s latest “X-factor” contest. It was during the preview that the young teenage participant said that she has lived in over 100 different foster homes. What a heart-breaking experience for anyone to endure! I was in awe of her steadfast perseverance and exceptional resilience in the face of repeated rejection and disappointment. To her credit, she must have possessed remarkable mental fortitude. Thankfully, she is now living happily with her present foster parents. Her outstanding example of a persevering approach to life is incredibly inspiring. She has demonstrated that keeping thought focused on an ultimate “high goal”, rather than languishing over each step along the pathway towards its achievement, enables one to cope with the stress of continual change and to triumph over repeated challenges. Hers is a truly heart-warming example of the sort of eventual healthy outcome resulting from never giving up!
Thank you David for your comment. Yes people like the young teenager are truly inspiring. They encourage us to keep going and never to give up on achieving our dream. That also applies to being well. If there is a desire to experience better health, then it’s possible for that to become a reality. It may take persistence and determination, but happiness and good health are achievable.
Thank you Beverly,
So glad that you enjoyed this post Pauline. Thanks for saying so. It’s always good to be reminded that good health is achievable and to never give up. I know many people that pursued their dream of being well and made it a reality. That’s encouraging for all of us to keep going and to achieve health, happiness and success.