HOWARD BANKHEAD
Blog: December 2012
The Power of Positive Thinking
‘Tis the Season to be Jolly…but for some of us, being jolly might require some additional effort. If you are not naturally (in or out of the season) jolly, the power of positive thinking will help you become jolly!
Earlier this year, I realized that I had to manufacture some happiness for me! Yes, manufacture happiness for ME. I realized that I was just going through the motions of life when I was practicing on my golf game or working on a project and sometimes during worship service… and, I realized that I wasn’t genuinely happy. So to salvage my day and life, I would manufacture some happiness by putting a smile on my face and thinking about the good things in life and the many positive things that I had done and planned on doing! I must say that manufacturing happiness for ME, lead to having hope, and having hope is a powerful thing!
One of my mottos is: “Smile All You Can…While You can.”
(Left: Howard Bankhead with daughter, Breeze)
As I write this blog, I realize that most of the youth that I have worked with over the last 10 years came through the golf programs basically from families that were poor enough to qualify for free or reduced priced lunch programs, and they had little or no hope. As leaders and believers, we must help them (in many cases they are single mothers living on low income salaries) see pass their present life and financial situation and look forward to the future. But the future starts now! And with positive thinking (prayer, good attitude and putting a smile on your face) and a plan to change and/or enhance your livelihood, hope will manifest in your life as well as theirs.
The key to change and/or enhance your livelihood is to create an action plan, a faith move, i.e., moving on faith! Once you commit yourself to make a change and harness the power of faith is when the power of positive thinking works. The power of positive thinking will help you to implement your action-plan which could include:
– going back to school
– getting a second or third job
– acquire more training
– volunteering and/or helping someone outside of your family
Positive thinking not only works in the moment, but it continues to the next day, and on, and on, and on.
Some key ingredients to positive thinking include:
– Having faith
– Genuine care for others
– Believing in yourself
– Giving
– Not afraid to take risks and/or time to help someone else
– Love! When there is love, there is positive thinking and no Fear.
One of my mottos is:
MILE ALL YOU CAN, WHILE YOU CAN!
Smile–I believe you must try to consciously or naturally wear a smile on your face and being conscious of your smiling face with positive thought help to produce endorphins. In short or in layman’s term, endorphins are result of a chemical reaction in the brain that produces a feeling of well-being.
I believe the brain works in the affirmative, which is a can do attitude.
Love is the most powerful element of positive thinking.
To love your brother is to love the Creator; this is a form of positive thinking!
To work in this world as a community organizer, a social entrepreneur and/or philanthropist, you must have a positive attitude. And in spite of my financial position, the power of positive thinking has helped me to endure, believing that my personal and business economic situation is improving!
I am blessed to have one of my better years ever in my 56 years of living to included:
– Delivering summer golf and life skills programs in three cities, five programs, serving on 110 youth
– Receiving a $5,000 Fellowship from Alabama State Council on the Arts for my jazz work
– Making my first hole-in-one
– Building a relationship with NEA Jazz Master Ellis Marsalis for my jazz studies program
– Receiving the Key to the City of Huntsville from Mayor Tommy Battle
For more information on how to donate to help make a difference in the lives of so many in our communities, we invite you to visit our Web site at http://tvygd.dms-graphics.com or call 256-886-0579.
Give Youth A Gift For Life: Youth Golf Development!
Howard Bankhead
Executive Director
Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development
604 Jordan Lane
Huntsville, AL 35816 USA
256-604-8172
