When something bad happens, it can take over and hold us hostage.
My daughter, Mickey, was in second grade when some kids in her class were mean to her. She developed an attitude, and if anything slightly irritating happened she would say, “Ah, now you wrecked my whole day.” From then on, she convinced herself that nothing good would happen that day. Every morning she woke up with a beautiful smile and positive attitude, but her attitude could turn upside down because we were out of a certain cereal or because she couldn’t find her favorite tee shirt. Getting her back to seeing the positive parts of the day was difficult.
Unpleasant circumstances can make it hard to concentrate as well as affect our mood, our interactions with others, and our reactions to whatever is going on around us. We can go into self-destruct mode. We worry, want to give up, eat the wrong things, argue or fight, and might turn to medications or alcohol to ease the hurt. None of these reactions are positive. Neither is the wreck-your-whole-day attitude.
What can we do when something upsets our peace? First, don’t let it get to you by internalizing the problem with worry and anger.
Second, remember bad things happen. Deal with the negatives. When someone hit my car, I had to get it fixed, but I was grateful I had insurance to cover it. When trouble comes, be aware of negative reactions that don’t resolve the situation, and remember that God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
Finally, don’t give up. Take action and move forward—even if you have to take baby steps. As long as you’re moving in the right direction, you will make progress and turn the challenge into a lesson. Make a conscious choice not to let that negative thing take over. Instead, focus on dealing with the issue and move on.
No matter what happens, be sure to remain aware of the blessings and positive things in your life. Remember that nothing is impossible with God. Control your responses and don’t let anything steal your joy.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
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Great reminder Thanks
What a great message. My friend was just telling me this yesterday when I had to shift my focus from a challenge to the solution. Thanks for the affirming reminder.