A Positive Outlook
One of the easiest things to do in life is to get discouraged. There’s no question that while we are on this earth, there are plenty of reasons to complain, be discouraged, and doubt yourself and the world around you.
On the other hand, one of the most difficult things for me to do in life is to stay positive and to be encouraged. I feel like this is something that I’ve gotten better at, but still struggle with it to some degree.
This past holiday season, I had one of the best Christmases ever, simply by staying positive. I didn’t realize how many people I affected when I became negative or complained about situations. I was ruining the holidays for myself and everyone around me.
In hindsight, I wish I would have changed my outlook a long time ago, because this last Christmas was full of joy, laughter, and despite some of the inevitable circumstances and events, keeping a positive attitude set my holiday season up for a major success. It felt good to just have a good time, and I feel like everyone else around me felt the same thing.
I’m reading a book by Larry Hugh titled Set Free. It’s about becoming free from generational curses and coming to a place of happiness and thankfulness regardless of circumstance. It has been a great book throughout, but one of my favorite quotes is:
“Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff.”
That changed my perspective about life in general! When something goes wrong, it’s better to laugh out loud, and move on instead of getting upset about every little thing. Nothing should taint your emotional compass. Sometimes, it’s best to just let it go. I believe that and I’m working hard to daily replace my emotions with the fruits of the spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
As the new year approaches, my goal for 2019 is to continue on my journey of becoming a better person and man for myself, for my family, and for the world around me. I want to be the man that stands in the gap for his family, the man who sacrifices for his family, and to love the way God loves us. I can start by not sweating the small stuff, and so far, that leaves room for my goals to take precedence.
Matthew 6:25-34
Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
