Do you sometimes find yourself pulled down by the negative attitudes or words of other people? Do you give way to hurt, bitterness, or unhappiness because of what someone says or does?
It is not easy to be around those who are negative, quarrelsome, or fault-finding—but we must not allow ourselves to be in bondage to their moods and dispositions. Instead, let us keep our minds centered upon the Truth that God is within them.
If we stay close to God ourselves, we find that the negativity of others has little effect upon us. Our own strength serves as a power for good. Poised and centered in Christ, nothing can disturb the calm peace of our soul.
Robert Frost quipped, “The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.” It does seem that those who worry the most work the least.
Worry is the result of deliberately dwelling on the negative, destructive elements of life. By doing so, problems become magnified all out of proportion to their true stature. Instead, take positive action and dive wholeheartedly into your work. This will relieve your mind and improve your circumstances.
Those who are really working don’t have time to worry. Work absorbs our negative, aggressive tendencies. We lose ourselves in constructive action. When a job is completed, we gain a feeling of accomplishment, well-being, and usefulness.
Work instead of worry. Work is constructive; worry is destructive. Which will you choose?
Do you ever look for trouble? If you do, it isn’t likely that you will be disappointed. Those who look for trouble generally find it.
A pessimistic attitude defeats us before we start. Have you ever made such comments as, “Something was bound to go wrong,” “Nothing good ever happens to me,” or “Life is just one problem after another”? To think or speak this way is to live dangerously. For your own protection, get rid of such attitudes. Otherwise, you will surely have a lot going wrong in your life and activities.
God desires joy and happiness for you—complete, full, and free. Give thanks that God’s good will is being done in and through your every experience. Focus on what is good, true, and beautiful and know that only good can happen to you.
Do you know that your thoughts and feelings are contagious? They affect the people and world around you. Even if we outwardly try to conceal them, others will sense our true emotional states. Even animals and plants are affected by our attitudes toward them.
All of us can recall someone whose appearance in a group caused the mood to droop. We also can recall being in the presence of a person who imparted a calm feeling, who radiated generous, loving emotions. Such a positive person is always a powerful force for good, uplifting and blessing others. As the poet John Donne said, “No man is an island.” Not only does the world affect us, we inevitably affect our world.
Still, it is most important to realize that conflicting, petty, or negative emotions devitalize and fatigue the one who has them. So there is really a two-fold reason to refrain from them—the unpleasant effect on others and the equally unpleasant effect on the source.
Give definite thought and attention to your emotional nature. Make a conscious effort to radiate loving, positive emotions wherever you may be, wherever you may go. Be contagious in a positive way!
Within the framework of our day-to-day living, we often experience petty annoyances, distractions, and interruptions. If we are not poised we may find that these things disrupt our day.
To maintain poise we need periods of prayer and silence. We should be still and think about God, letting our mind and heart be lifted up and renewed.
Find time to be alone—if only for a few minutes. Read something inspirational to take your thoughts off outer concerns. Affirm that God is with you, inspiring you, filling your mind with divine ideas. As this takes place, you will find yourself more peaceful and harmonious, and thus much more effective when you go back to your duties. No longer will you be disturbed, but you will be joyously aware of God’s presence.