In My Life I have been Vanquished and know too well bitter taste of Defeat.

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In My Life I have been so overwhelmed with Joy that I thought I could not contain it.

In My Life I have been so overwrought with Sorrow that I believed I could not bear another moment of it.

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In My Life I have Believed so strongly that no person or circumstance could impair my conviction.

In My Life I have Doubted so deeply that a single criticism could sway my belief.

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In My Life I have been so Optimistic there wasn't a single dream of mine that I was not convinced I could make a reality.

In My Life I have been so Discouraged that I dare not dream.

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In My Life I have lived with Hope and been magnificently empowered.

In My Life I have been Hopeless and rendered powerless.

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In My Life I have enjoyed Abundance where I felt no person or circumstance could ever take away my worldly possessions.

In My Life I have lost all my worldly possessions and been humbled by destitution.

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In My Life I have recklessly Judged and caused great pain for others.

In My Life I have felt brutal sting of being Judged.

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In My Life I have been Admired so ardently that it was almost embarrassing.

In My Life I have been Despised so deeply that I felt like crawling away and hiding.

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In My Life I have Apologized and felt amazing healing.

In My Life I have Forgiven and felt amazing freedom.

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These viewpoints relegate empowering attributes of hope and faith to nothing more than dumb luck. But faith isn't something external or future-based. Faith is internal and fully grounded in present. It's belief that you have power to control your actions within current circumstances and that what you do or create today ultimately impacts your destiny.

Examples from History

In order to better help you distinguish inherent differences between internal and external-based faith, let's take a look at two real-life examples:

1. America's first commercial jet service began with a Boeing 707 flight in 1958. The next month, according to National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," a passenger on a nearly obsolete propeller-driven DC-6 airliner struck up a conversation with another passenger who happened to be a Boeing engineer.

The curious traveler asked engineer about new jet aircraft. The engineer spoke convincingly about rigorous testing Boeing had completed on cutting-edge model. He went on to explain Boeing's extensive experience in designing jet engines. Then passenger asked most critical question: "Have you flown on new 707 jet?"

The engineer's testimony, which had been grounded in external faith, crashed and burned with his reply. "I think I'll wait until it's been in service awhile," he said.

Although Boeing engineer believed a great deal in his company and in aerodynamic principles of jet flight, until he actually flew on Boeing 707 his faith would lack credibility.

2. In late 19th century, Susan B. Anthony, a delegate to Sons of Temperance Meeting in Albany, NY, was denied right to speak from platform due to her gender. She put her faith into action by organizing a group of like-minded advocates. Together they formed Women's State Temperance Society of New York, an organization dedicated to pursuit of securing a Constitutional Amendment that established a woman's right to vote.