Atmosphere and Attitude

One of the first motivational speeches I gave was called "White Heat." I used the example of the Apostle Paul as someone who had a white hot conviction for his mission. Whether spreading the Gospel to cities throughout the Mediterranean, promoting a new product, starting a business, running for office, or winning a game, all achievements in life begin with a positive attitude - the faith that we can do it.

I've never stopped encouraging people to discover the power of a positive attitude. I spoke recently at a sixth-grade graduation ceremony and delivered one of the talks I've been giving for decades called "The Three A's: Atmosphere, Attitude and Action." We can choose to put ourselves in a positive atmosphere that encourages a positive attitude that leads to positive action. I told them they can stay with friends who tell them they can't or choose friends who tell them they can.

I was speaking to another class of sixth-graders about my heart transplant and the topic led to a discussion about fears. One girl said she was afraid of the dark. I told her I was afraid of the dark, too. We all have dark areas in life that we fear - illness, job loss, financial worries, doubts about our abilities, the state of our economy or the world's environment.

But if we keep a positive attitude, we discover the light that God has put in our hearts to overcome the darkness. For most of my life I've been telling people that they can do it and watching them succeed in ways as positive as their attitudes.

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Rich DeVos is vice-chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.