Inspirational articles from Living Life Fully

My Favorite Four-Letter Words
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:

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

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

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

4. 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.

5. Pray. Prayer connects you with spiritual power, and it 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.

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Yes, life can be mysterious and confusing--but there's much of life that's actually rather dependable and reliable. Some principles apply to life in so many different contexts that they can truly be called universal--and learning what they are and how to approach them and use them can teach us some of the most important lessons that we've ever learned.
My doctorate is in Teaching and Learning. I use it a lot when I teach at school, but I also do my best to apply what I've learned to the life I'm living, and to observe how others live their lives. What makes them happy or unhappy, stressed or peaceful, selfish or generous, compassionate or arrogant? In this book, I've done my best to pass on to you what I've learned from people in my life, writers whose works I've read, and stories that I've heard. Perhaps these principles can be a positive part of your life, too!
Universal Principles of Living Life Fully. Awareness of these principles can explain a lot and take much of the frustration out of the lives we lead.