The good news file that helped in troubled times

For example, I knew of people who saw themselves as failures because they were measuring themselves by the wrong yardstick.

The best antidote to this is the Chasidic story about Zusya of Hanipol. When asked why he did not behave with more dignity, he replied, "When I get to heaven, they won't ask me, ‘Zusya, why weren't  you Moses?’  They'll ask me, 'Zusya, why weren't you Zusya?’”

God does not ask us to be someone else. He asks us to be ourselves.

I found the answer. I bought a file and put in it a note of all the good things in my life. Whenever something positive happened, I kept a record of it there.

Then I put it away in a drawer. Whenever I felt low after that, I went to my study, took out the file and read it slowly, inhaling with each page.

It never failed. In the words of the Psalmist, "it restored my soul." It helped me to set the bad times in context and remember that, despite the pain, life is good. I call it my "good news file”

I have taught the principle to others and they tell me it works.