{"id":1262,"date":"2016-12-11T17:46:14","date_gmt":"2016-12-11T22:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/?p=1262"},"modified":"2016-12-11T17:46:14","modified_gmt":"2016-12-11T22:46:14","slug":"norman-vincent-peale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html","title":{"rendered":"3 Life-Changing Truths from Donald Trump’s Favorite Minister"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this year a friend of mine delivered a sermon at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Facebook comments soon informed him that the church had once been headed by Donald Trump’s favorite minister. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"norman<\/a><\/p>\n

That minister was Norman Vincent Peale. Reverend Peale presided at his marriage to Ivana. Trump\u00a0has spoken about Peale\u2019s extraordinary sermons and teachings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Simple Wisdom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regardless of what one thinks about Trump, his favorite minister warrants renewed attention. While Peale was popular in the 50s and 60s, he fell from the public eye because of some of his more conservative political positions. His writings were also seen\u00a0simplistic and backwards-looking. <\/span><\/p>\n

But there is a difference between simplistic and simple. Peale\u2019s writing is far from simplistic. It does, however, convey some simple and overlooked guidance\u00a0for living happier and more productive lives. What are they?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Always be optimistic because optimism makes happiness possible<\/strong>: Even in\u00a0trying circumstances, which each of us faces, optimism benefits us. It helps us cope when things go wrong, while increasing the chance we can create a better outcome. This is not just faith talking. It\u00a0is science. <\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers have discovered what they term \u201cthe optimism bias.\u201d The way we view the future helps shape what it turns out to be. When we view it positively, we reduce anxiety and stress. And we focus on creating the future we envision.<\/p>\n

Israeli Discoveries<\/strong><\/p>\n

Much of the research in this area has, interestingly, come out of Israel. The world\u2019s foremost optimism expert, Dr. Tali Sharot, writes that \u201cThe tendency for positive predictions to create positive outcomes is rooted in fundamental rules governing the way the mind perceives, interprets and alters the work it encounters.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

“The mind has a tendency to try to transform predictions into reality because our behavior is influenced by our own subjective perceptions of reality.\u201d<\/p>\n

In other words, what we believe is more likely to come true because the belief generates the action we need. We will work harder to realize our beliefs. Peale knew 60 years ago what researchers are proving today. (Click here to get 10 Life-Changing Quotes <\/a>from Norman Vincent Peale)\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Find meaning in tragedy:<\/strong> Shakespeare said, \u201cthere is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.\u201d In other words, we assign meaning to life\u2019s events.<\/p>\n

Certain events like the death of a loved one inevitably produce sadness. Yet, they can also lead us to make positive changes in our \u00a0life. They remind us of what matters most. They can help us renew other relationships.<\/p>\n

We can find hope, as Peale recognized, even in the worst circumstances. And we can turn our tragedy into a lifeline\u00a0for others. Consider the victims of\u00a0cancer and Alzheimer\u2019s whose survivors have raised tremendous funds to help find a cure, so others do not experience the same tragedy.<\/p>\n

3. Pray with intention:<\/strong> Peale was an extraordinary preacher. Yet, his colleagues said he always got tremendously nervous before getting up to speak.<\/p>\n

What calmed him and gave him focus were a few simple prayers. They gave him the push to share his message with the thousands who needed it.<\/p>\n

Peale understood prayer is not simply about saying something to God. It is also about saying something to ourselves.<\/p>\n

It tells\u00a0us\u00a0of who we are and what we are called to do. It gives God an opening to into our hearts and minds so God can help use our gifts. It reminds us that God has our back.<\/p>\n

300 years ago a Jewish mystic said \u201cGod dwells where we let Him in.\u201d Prayer is a way of opening the door so God can come in. And when God comes in, we find the inner strength to live fully and pursue the happiness for which\u00a0we were created.<\/p>\n

Get 10 Life-Changing Quotes<\/a>from Norman Vincent Peale<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Earlier this year a friend of mine delivered a sermon at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Facebook comments soon informed him that the church had once been headed by Donald Trump’s favorite minister. \u00a0 That minister was Norman Vincent Peale. Reverend Peale presided at his marriage to Ivana. Trump\u00a0has spoken about Peale\u2019s extraordinary…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":507,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[406,238,404,4,405],"class_list":["post-1262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-donald-trump","tag-happiness","tag-optimism","tag-prayer","tag-quotes"],"yoast_head":"\n3 Life-Changing Truths from Donald Trump's Favorite Minister - Truths You Can Use<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3 Life-Changing Truths from Donald Trump's Favorite Minister - Truths You Can Use\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Earlier this year a friend of mine delivered a sermon at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Facebook comments soon informed him that the church had once been headed by Donald Trump’s favorite minister. \u00a0 That minister was Norman Vincent Peale. Reverend Peale presided at his marriage to Ivana. Trump\u00a0has spoken about Peale\u2019s extraordinary…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Truths You Can Use\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RabbiEvan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2016-12-11T22:46:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/files\/2016\/12\/peale-smile.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Evan Moffic\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@chicagorabbi\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"3 Life-Changing Truths from Donald Trump's Favorite Minister - Truths You Can Use","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"3 Life-Changing Truths from Donald Trump's Favorite Minister - Truths You Can Use","og_description":"Earlier this year a friend of mine delivered a sermon at Marble Collegiate Church in New York City. Facebook comments soon informed him that the church had once been headed by Donald Trump’s favorite minister. \u00a0 That minister was Norman Vincent Peale. Reverend Peale presided at his marriage to Ivana. Trump\u00a0has spoken about Peale\u2019s extraordinary…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html","og_site_name":"Truths You Can Use","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RabbiEvan\/","article_published_time":"2016-12-11T22:46:14+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/files\/2016\/12\/peale-smile.jpg"}],"author":"Evan Moffic","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@chicagorabbi","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html","name":"3 Life-Changing Truths from Donald Trump's Favorite Minister - Truths You Can Use","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/files\/2016\/12\/peale-smile.jpg","datePublished":"2016-12-11T22:46:14+00:00","dateModified":"2016-12-11T22:46:14+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/#\/schema\/person\/55ddc5e03d79abbfcc6d4f944687d65d"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/files\/2016\/12\/peale-smile.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/files\/2016\/12\/peale-smile.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/2016\/12\/norman-vincent-peale.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"3 Life-Changing Truths from Donald Trump’s Favorite Minister"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/","name":"Truths You Can Use","description":"Jewish Wisdom, Jewish Blogs, Daily Jewish Inspiration and Jewish News","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/#\/schema\/person\/55ddc5e03d79abbfcc6d4f944687d65d","name":"Evan Moffic","description":"Rabbi Evan Moffic writes for people of all faiths. His book, What Every Christian Needs to Know About the Jewishness of Jesus was a 2015 best-seller. His upcoming book of devotions\u2014Shalom for the Heart\u2014takes short biblical passages and show they way they can help us make better choices and live with fewer regrets. With Rabbi Moffic, you will find an open, accessible guide to life\u2019s deepest truths. A husband and father, he graduated from Stanford University in 2000, and was ordained a rabbi in 2006. He leads a congregation in suburban Chicago. You can connect with him directly at emoffic@gmail.com.","sameAs":["http:\/\/www.rabbimoffic.com","https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RabbiEvan\/","https:\/\/x.com\/chicagorabbi"],"url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/author\/emoffic"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1262","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/507"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1262"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1262\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1266,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1262\/revisions\/1266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1262"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1262"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/truthsyoucanuse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1262"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}