T hree years ago, the flood of the century inundated my hometown of Grand Forks, North Dakota, changing the lives of my family and more than 60,000 other people.

Studying the aftermath of the disaster, I saw that some people were able to reach deep into themselves and emerge with their humor, love and kindness intact.

I learned then that each of us possesses 10 internal resources that can help establish a firm foundation of personal peace...

THE GIFT OF FAITH

The first gift enables us to release our doubts, resistance and limitations to a higher power without hesitation. If no trouble is around, awareness of this power greater than ourselves allows us to envision possibilities that answer the question, “What is the most wonderful thing that could happen?”

Example: After the flood, religious congregations of Grand Forks formed the Valley Interfaith Coalition for Victory to help those who needed assistance recovering from the devastation. We began by praying for help.

The coalition’s phone soon began ringing off the hook with calls for assistance. Some money started to come in and we were promised grants in future months, but the amount was inadequate to meet the demand. So we prayed for $100,000, which we estimated would cover the immediate demand. Enough donations came in to reach that goal. But it soon became clear that much more was needed. This time, we prayed for all the money that would be necessary -- and within two years, we received close to $4 million.

THE GIFT OF LOVE

This gift is the conscious choice to reveal the best in people, other living creatures and any part of nature. By helping us perceive the beauty that surrounds us, it relieves our self-consciousness and helps us uplift ourselves and others.

How to use the gift of love: Look for the good in other people. Watch them closely, and listen to them carefully to discover what will bring out the joy in them. Then remind them of the unique talents, experience or character qualities they already have that ensure they can have what they want. Give them vivid accounts of instances when they used those traits. Watch the light go on in their eyes.

THE GIFT OF DREAMS

This gift enables us to focus on whatever inspires or uplifts us, letting us play a part in the creation of a better world as we form good intentions and carry them out.

Access your dreams: Ask...

What would make me happy?

Why would it make me happy, and why is it important to me?

How will it benefit other people... and how will I act toward others when I have it?

When do I want it to happen?

Where will my dream take me when it comes true?

THE GIFT OF COURAGE

This gift involves taking concrete action to help us achieve the object of our love and dreams. Answering the question, “What am I willing to try?” makes change exciting, rather than frightening.

Example: Vera wanted to help her 10-year-old daughter make new friends, so she set up an after-school group where they could perform simple science experiments. Soon the group outgrew Vera’s limited knowledge, and she recruited a group of scientists to help. Then the group expanded to include boys and girls from the whole school... and a few years later, it won a $4.5 million federal grant. Now Vera’s organization, with more than 100 volunteers and 22 paid staff members, has constructed a full-scale science center.

THE GIFT OF UNITY

This gift joins us with other like-minded spirits to achieve a shared vision. It asks, “Who can help me?”

Example: Marge and Carmen Jordan made many sacrifices to raise their 14 children. Their children decided to celebrate their parents’ anniversary by sending them away for five days while they painted the outside of their dilapidated house. The painting took less than one day, and they decided they should also build a deck... and put in new doors. Then the grateful children reconstructed the entire downstairs. When the parents arrived home, they were astonished to find a fully remodeled home.

THE GIFT OF JOY

This gift lets us take pleasure in what we have created, showing us that we are not here just to survive but to satisfy our souls and inspire others to do the same. Start a journal in which you can unleash your joy for a few minutes every day. Answer the questions...

What is going right at this moment?

Why does it make me happy?

How can I best respond to it?

THE GIFT OF TRUST

This gift is the internal radar system that aligns our thoughts and actions to help us grow and makes us feel bad whenever we think, say or do anything that could be harmful.

When you feel stressed, call on your sense of trust. Stop whatever you are doing. Close your eyes... ask yourself what you should do now... take several deep breaths ... and listen to your intuition before you take action.

THE GIFT OF CHARACTER

This gift is understanding who we are now and who we want to be. It reminds us of our authentic self and unique role in the universe.

How to become what you want to be: List all the traits you do not want... then, line by line, make a second list with exactly the opposite traits. Destroy the first list, rewrite the second list, and for each good trait think of at least one person you know who possesses it. Ask yourself, “Which trait would serve me best now?” and picture how your role model would act. After a while, your new traits will become natural.

THE GIFT OF THANKS

This gift lets us bless what we have achieved with our other gifts. By saying “This is good,” we enjoy a feeling of contentment that also lets us pour positive energy into others, helping them to use their own gifts.

THE GIFT OF INTENTION

This gift is the ability to choose a new direction or return to an old one, regardless of current circumstances. It asks the questions, “What now?” and “What next?” When we remind ourselves that “It ain’t over until it’s over,” we can decide to leave the past behind or trade something good for something even better.