Think Pink! The Power of Positivity
by 
Think pink! think pink! when you shop for summer clothes.
Think pink! think pink! if you want that quel-que chose.
Red is dead, blue is through,
Green’s obscene, brown’s taboo.
And there is not the slightest excuse for plum or puce
—or chartreuse.
…
Now, I wouldn’t presume to tell a woman
what a woman oughtta think,
But tell her if she’s gotta think: think pink—!
—for bags! pink for shoes!
Razzle, dazzle and spread the news!
And pink’s for the lady with joie de vive!
Pinks for all the family.
Try pink shampoo.
Pink toothpaste too.
Play in pink, all day in pink,
Pretty gay in pink.
Drive in pink, come alive in pink,
Have a dive in pink.
…
Think pink! think pink, it’s the latest word, you know.
Think pink! think pink and you’re Michelangelo.
Feels so gay, feels so bright.
Makes you day, makes you night.
Pink is now the color to which
you gotta switch!
…
Think pink! think pink on the long, long road ahead.
…
Think pink and the world is rosey-red
…
Everything on the great horizon,
Everything that you can think—
and that includes the kitchen sink,
Think pink!
…
– excerpts of “Think Pink” lyrics from Funny Face (1957 Film)
If there is a record for the song that says “pink” more times than any other, this one just might take the cake. I counted 25 mentions, and this is only a portion of the whimsical song lyrics. That’s a whole lot of pink! While I’m more of a teal lover myself, I can appreciate a pretty shade of pink as much as the next girl – it’s just plain fun. However, (as I’m sure you’ve guessed) I’m not here to break down which color is most pleasing to the eye – I’m here to teach you how to Think Pink, and employ The Power of Positivity!
“Pink” (aside from being the color that results when one mixes red and white) can be defined as:
“The highest or best form, degree, or example of something”
So, if we are to have the highest and best form, degree, and example of thoughts, we need to Think Pink!
“Think pink! think pink on the long, long road ahead.
…
Think pink and the world is rosey-red“
No matter the trials we face along the way, we can choose to maintain a positive outlook – counting our blessings and dwelling on all that’s right in our life, rather than all that’s wrong. How we think has a profound effect on all three aspects of our human makeup – from soma, to soul, to spirit. Negative thinking patterns can bring great harm to our physical wellness, our social standing, and our relationship with God. Today, I want to share with you three ways that you can start “Thinking Pink” in order to level up your thought patterns, and consequently, your life. Firstly, to keep your soma in tip-top shape, you must…
Wellness is a connection of paths: knowledge and action.
Joshua Holtz
Mr. Holtz is right on target. One must think healthy in order to be healthy. First we get the mind right, and then we move forward with action steps. As the famous saying goes, “you can’t pray for an A and study for a B”. Total wellness starts with 1.) right thoughts, coupled with 2.) right choices that help make our health a reality. Now, am I saying that if we think the right thoughts and make the right choices, we can always prevent all maladies (such as the common cold, stomach flu, diabetes, or cancer)? Of course not. “Time and chance overtake them all” says the scripture, and that includes illness; no one is 100% immune to health problems, no matter how healthy their mindset. With that being said, many of the fleshly trials we endure could be prevented or lessened by thinking healthy. Here are three examples…
Obesity can usually be avoided by thinking healthy about food and exercise. To be in shape, our mindset needs to be “eating to live” rather than “living to eat”, and we must learn to enjoy labor rather than giving in to sloth. Those who think, “It’s too hard. I’m just fat and I always will be” will never shed the pounds.
Lung cancer can usually be avoided by thinking healthy about tobacco usage. To have clear lungs, our mindset needs to be one of controlling our cravings rather than being controlled by our cravings. We humans quickly become a slave to anything we “have to have” – some to the point of death. Those who think, “I’ll never quit. I’m an addict and I always will be” will never put down the cigarettes.
Stomach ulcers can usually be avoided by thinking healthy about our problems. To have a healthy tummy, our mindset needs to be focused on our blessings rather than our curses. When “the joy of the Lord is our refuge“, our stress levels decrease dramatically. Those who think, “Nothing will ever be right for me. I’m anxious and depressed and I always will be” will never feel a sense of inner peace – in the tummy or the heart.
While not every illness can be avoided by a healthy mindset, many can. Furthermore, thinking healthy will be an aid to us when our body is at risk of falling prey to various illnesses. Consider the common cold. Thinking healthy makes us more aware of hygiene (i.e. washing hands, laundering clothes, wiping down door handles, etc.) when we have been exposed to others who are sick, thus lessening our chance of contracting the virus. Thinking healthy makes us reach for fruits and veggies rather than sugary confections when we have a cold, thus shortening the length of our downtime. Thinking healthy makes us value wellness, thus rendering us more grateful and productive in times of health and vigor. Thinking healthy benefits us before, during, and after illness. So think pink! Think healthy for a healthy soma.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. – Proverbs 17:22
Secondly, to keep your soul in tip-top shape, you must…
The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.
Martha Washington
Indeed, wise Mrs. Washington, our first First Lady. Maintaining a happy disposition no matter the circumstance is something we all seem to know is ideal, but so quickly forget to do when a “bad day” rolls around. Speaking of “bad days”, are they really so numerous as we believe them to be? One of my favorite convicting sayings is, “Was it a bad day? Or a bad 5 minutes that you milked all day?”. Bad days certainly exist, but let’s face it – more often than not, “bad days” are the result of milking a bad 5 minutes. We women can so easily become drama queens, throw ourselves a great big pity party over the smallest frustration, and waste away a good day on account of a bad attitude. If we’re honest with ourselves, we sometimes think (in a twisted way) that it feels good to feel bad. But is being miserable really all it’s cracked up to be?
Women who brood in misery set themselves up for all kinds of sin. They neglect to count their blessings. They grumble and complain. They lash out at their husbands and children. They say words they later regret. They use manipulation tactics, such as “the silent treatment”. They replay offenses in their mind again and again. They spill out gossip and slander to anyone who will listen, for “misery loves company”. They end up hindering their own relationships, because no one wants to be around someone who is chronically unhappy. The snowball effect continues. Nothing good comes from wallowing in self pity. Oswald Chambers said in his famous work, My Utmost For His Highest, that “self pity is of the devil”, and we would do well to remember this sobering truth.
So how do you think happy? You do the exact opposite of the scenario I painted above. Remember to count your blessings. Talk about things that are right rather than things that are wrong. Treat your family with kindness and gentility. Opt for silence when you feel out of control. Refuse to act childish and play head games. Forgive and forget offenses. Don’t air dirty laundry to others. Cultivate a cheerful disposition that makes people want to be around you. This time, the snowball effect is filled with rich rewards. So think pink! Think happy for a happy soul.
When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. – Psalm 94:19
Thirdly, to keep your spirit in tip-top shape, you must…
You are not what you think you are, but what you think…you are!
– David Jeremiah
This sermon-title-turned-quote from David Jeremiah hits the nail on the head. The things that we choose to think about are, in essence, our identity. Every day, the thoughts that we dwell on are building us into the person we will become…for better or worse. When I was a teenager and struggling with low self-esteem, I would sometimes bemoan, “I’m so ugly!” Without skipping a beat, my father would always reply: “If you think ugly, you are ugly. If you think pretty, you are pretty.” My response was probably something along the lines of, “Okay, sure Dad, thanks…but I’m still ugly. My mirror doesn’t lie.” As an adult, I realize that in his clever rebuttal to my laments of ugliness, there are at least two positive messages to extract…
1.) Confidence is key. The way that we view ourselves affects the way that we show up in the world. People often view us the way we view ourselves. Poor self-esteem is unappealing, while confidence is attractive. When we think, “I’m pretty”, and go on to act like it, we set the tone for how others see us.
2.) Inner beauty trumps outer beauty. (This is not to say that outer beauty is insignificant – only less important overall) If your thoughts are hideous, you are hideous. If your thoughts are gorgeous, you are gorgeous. When you cultivate inner beauty, worthwhile people who get to know you will see a value that goes beyond physical appearance.
Do you think ugly, or do you think pretty? What do you fill your mind with? Love, or hate? Positivity, or negativity? Life, or death? Forgiveness, or revenge? Blessings, or curses? Sweet words, or swear words? Contentment, or covetousness? Fidelity, or adultery? Obedience, or defiance? Hope, or despair? Truth, or lies? Remember, what we think…we are. So think pink! Think holy for a holy spirit.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer. – Psalm 19:14
In conclusion…
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. – Philippians 4:8
In this famous passage, Paul and Timothy gave a beautiful summary of what it is to Think Pink. These two men encountered various trials in their lives, but nonetheless chose to embrace The Power of Positivity. We also can choose to Think Healthy, Think Happy, and Think Holy, no matter our circumstances. If you have a tendency to fall into negativity and pessimism, my challenge to you is to start Thinking Pink. Use the Philippians passage to guide you…it’s not just pretty words to display on a Bible cover, but the message holds the key to defeating negativity and embracing positive thinking.
Think Pink. Do it for your soma. Do it for your soul. Do it for your spirit.
If your soma is sound, you’re healthy. If your soul is sound, you’re happy. If your spirit is sound, you’re holy.
Dustin Bolks
For God’s glory,
Mrs. Dustin Bolks
Chaste Bolks is a church of Christ preacher’s wife, and the home educating mother of two children. She and her family currently reside in Northwest Iowa.
