Sunday, March 7, 2010
Just Pondering
I've recently been thinking about our perspective and how it affects our lives. I love to focus on the good, and allow my world to be seen from such a perspective that I may fully enjoy what is around me. I do not suggest that we do not allow ourselves to feel our sufferings, we should, every feeling should be acknowledged, but I am speaking of what drives us, our sufferings or our joys? I sometimes hear that this is not honest but I cannot agree. If so it would be dishonest to allow the negative experiences to define my focus and understandings as well. I think we all find that our behavior reflects how we feel, but how we feel is affected by what is going on at the time. To simply state, if we choose to experience the positive then we are happy, if we choose to experience the negative then we are sad. Of course there are times in our lives where there is great pain, I have felt some, and I ache for those of you who have felt it more, and it is the example of some of you that allow me to feel so strongly about where we place our thoughts. For a simple example, the other day I was at the store and a woman bumped into a stack of nuts in boxes. One of the boxes fell and she loudly announced that this was a sure sign that her day was going to be horrible. It was only 9:00am. I have many weaknesses, I am not the most coordinated person, I probably would have dropped the nuts too, I am not the best housekeeper, or the most organized and more. I have moments where I feel tempted to think that my world is not going so well because of such weaknesses that hinder my ability to be as great as so-and-so, however, this thinking only keeps me from progressing forward, overcoming my weaknesses and building on my strengths. What else would the adversary wish for us? I am not accepting his plan, I have a plan that I accepted long ago that is mine to keep and I will not be bogged down with the negative. When I focus on the the frustrations of parenthood, I miss all of the beautiful moments of great joy that it brings. When I focus on where I am lacking, I miss all of the great blessings that have been bestowed upon me. Oh, how I hate to miss such things. I don't think either point of view is dishonest, I've just decided that I do not have time to focus on all of the negative, which there is plenty, for I would then miss all of the good and great, for which there is more. I will deal with what comes, and I will allow myself to see the Lord's hand in all things, for it is with Him that I am able to see clearly the sweet blessings that are in my life.
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I agree with you. The negative comes in life. It just happens. And some days, it overtakes us...and like you say...it bogs us down. But when I choose to see the positive, during my bad days as well as my good days, my bad days aren't as bad. I'm not as bogged down.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your insights. I feel the same way! :)
Thank you Maren. I am grateful for your example of optimism and faith.
ReplyDeleteVery well put!
ReplyDeleteI bet that nuts lady had other issues than just the nuts. Sometimes I realize my worst days usually become better because I do so much to try and relax or counter the bad stuff. It's those days when you can't stop or you can't reflect that make me tense. I'm learning to express my feelings no matter how they come good and bad. And be courageous to confront the bad ones openly. It's really interesting when someone asks me how I'm doing and I tell them I am stressed, they rarely explore further. I think people are uncomfortable with hard things. That is why I am not studying for boards right now and leaving this comment.
ReplyDeleteI better go.
Tah.
H
I absolutely agree, we need to express our feelings but my point is what perspective will we allow to rule our vision of reality. I think you can definitely feel stressed but still be able to enjoy the world around you. If you focus on the negatives of stress and suggest that it will run your world then you have lost your joy.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I loved about my mom and dad is that they had a feeling of humor about lots of disastrous things that happened in their lives. When some big crash happened they probably would have laughed with gusto. Mom said that one of the good things that came out of the house fire was that she quit looking for lost things. She would give up and say, "Probably lost in the fire."
ReplyDeletemy friend who has had 5 or 6 heart operations and who died twice on the operating table and was revived once said (when someone was really bitter about a tiny thing), "Maybe she needs more really bad things to happen in her life. --I'm not cursing her, but I am serious."
I also learned that it is easier to find the bad than the good, but it makes a better life to find the good than the bad.
Party on, dude!