Perhaps you've received emails where the sender has a personal signature, maybe even complete with a quote of some kind. There are a lot of people who like to put a quote, phrase, or something similar to that under their name when they send out an email.

Maybe you like to put a quote under your name when you send out emails too. Recently, my son told me about something he read on an email that he received at his job.

What he read didn't exactly inspire and motivate him. It didn't give him pause for consideration or profitable thinking. And, even though it was probably intended to be funny, he didn't see the humor in it at all!

The line under the signature read, "Just accept it. Some days you're a statue and other days you're a pigeon."

Wow!

First of all, my son didn't like the "accept it" part of the quote and I don't blame him. Life is not determined by fate! We do not just have to accept whatever happens to us. We have the freedom of will to take charge of our own lives.

Secondly, my son took issue with being a pigeon. He told me that he thought that the quote was basically saying that some days you have to be a statue and have crap dumped on you, but other days, you get to be a pigeon and dump crap on others.

I'm glad he had the maturity not to just laugh it off as another "funny" example about life. It is sad, but there are lots of people who have this kind of attitude about life in one form or another. They get up each day with thoughts like, "Well, let's see what today brings."

Now that's an interesting outlook on life isn't it? Get up in the morning and yawn, and say, "Gee, I wonder if I'm going to get crapped on today, or, if I get to crap on everybody else? Oh well, whatever happens, I'm just going to accept it."

That kind of attitude really is a bunch of crap!

No matter what situation or circumstance you are in today, you don't have to accept the way things are in your life. You can choose by your own freedom of will to change your life. It all starts with your thoughts.

If lousy things are happening in your life and you are dealing with unpleasant situations, and you feel just like a bombarded statue, then stop dwelling on those things. Stop talking about that. Stop focusing on that. Don't ever just accept it.

Instead, use your God-given free will to think and focus on exactly what you desire for your life. Find a helpful method to keep your mind attuned to your desires and goals, so that you can keep those thoughts in the forefront of your mind.

Write down your goals and read them throughout the day. Carry written affirmations with you to read during the day. Review your goals and dreams before you go to sleep and especially when you wake up in the morning.

What is most important is what you are consistently thinking. The dominant thoughts that you carry build your own personal belief system. The things that you attract into your life are based on your own personal belief system.

If we are supposed to "accept whatever happens," then why did the Creator give each and every one of us free will to choose to think whatever thoughts we want to think? And, why did He promise to give you the desires of your heart?

Being a statue or a pigeon may sound funny, or even disturbing to some people. Regardless, accepting whatever life throws at you is the way some people go through life.

However, it doesn't have to be the way you go through life. Each morning you can choose the thoughts you will carry for that day, and continue to build a positive and successful belief system.

About the Author

Michael A. Verdicchio is a husband, father, minister, author,and broadcaster. He has been the voice on numerous productions over the years, and offers, "Pep Talks" on audio CD, at http://www.MikesPepTalks.com . Michael has a free newsletter called, THE PEP LETTER, at http://www.christianinspirationalgifts.com/pepletter.html .