Inspiration - My Favourite Four-Letter Words

By Norman Vincent Peale

Four-letter obscenities are being used more and more in literature, movies and, so I'm told, even in sophisticated conversation. Some psychologists even suggest obscenities serve a useful purpose in helping people find a release from tension and frustration.

It's a temporary release at best, and more than likely will bring the user increasing self-dislike and frustration. I'd like to suggest a better way to use four-letter words.

The idea comes from pharmacist George Scharringhausen, who some years ago went through a period of intense stress and tension. A man of imagination who enjoys crossword puzzles, he began working on a written formula for inner strength. The result was a series of four-letter words to give him a healthy mental attitude all day long.

Here are the five key words:

Look: Look squarely at the nature of your problems. Be alert. Keep looking for the right solutions. Look around you for opportunities.

Work: Nothing will so fortify you against stress as hard, constructive work. It helps you forget yourself.

Give: Give yourself to people. Be genuinely interested in their problems--in the process you'll overcome reluctance and weariness.

Love: It nourishes and restores you. Love is taking a phone call at three o'clock in the morning, getting up to prepare a prescription for a sick child. It is going the second mile in caring for people.

Pray: Prayer connects you with spiritual power, builds up your inner strength. From it comes the certainty that you are being helped by someone else--and that is a wonderful confidence-builder.

You don't have to utter obscenities to relieve tension and frustration. Instead, try this formula of four-letter words to give inner strength to match outer stress:

• Look
• Work
• Give
• Live
• Pray

Peale was the author of 46 inspirational books including "The Art of Living, A Guide to Confident Living, The Tough-Minded Optimist, and Inspiring Messages for Daily Living." His book "The Power of Positive Thinking", was published in 1952 and has sold nearly 20 million copies and has been printed in 41 different languages. Peale completed what has been called his all-time inspirational best seller at age 54.

On Christmas Eve of 1993, Dr. Peale left us to meet his maker at the ripe age of 95 years old. His message of positive thinking, strong faith and helping others achieve their true potential will continue to live on with us well into the new millennium.

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