Today I’m in a celebrative mood! Recently, a few blessings in my work life have come about, so it’s a day for cheerfulness. I even brought homemade cupcakes to the office breakroom to ramp up good vibes with everyone else. It feels great to sprinkle joy around my coworkers and loved ones on this special day. Wouldn’t it be fun if every day were like this one?
Unfortunately, this kind of enthusiastic mindset is not my daily norm. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I tend to look at experiences of life in a cautious “what might go wrong with this situation” attitude rather than first considering the good that can come from it all.
Instead, I wish I had the kind of uplifting mentality of the apostle Paul when he reminds us in Philippians 4:8 that: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Having an optimistic mindset sounds like such a better way to go through life, but is this kind of thinking too virtuous to be realistic? Not at all. Thankfully, these words from Paul aren’t just happy-go-lucky biblical jargon. They’re sound advice that speaks to us today.
We know through current research that positive, joyful thinking isn’t just a method for keeping us in a good mood for the moment. It’s actually a pathway to overall well-being!
Health benefits of positive thinking
Research from Mayo Clinic shows the following effects of positive thinking and optimism on health, such as:
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
These are all things that we’d love to have but it will only come if we are intentional about our attitudes. So, what are some ways to change our thinking from feeling “bleh!” to blessed?
Do things that bring joy
What’s something you love doing but maybe have put off for a while? Any hobbies you were once wild about that have become buried in a back-room closet? Finding experiences that bring happiness is one way to bring back the joy in our lives. For example, I love baking! But it’s not always best for my waistline to keep baked goodies near at hand. So, I’ve found that preparing a batch of sweets to share with friends brings a lot of happy feelings to my heart.
Communicate your thoughts
It’s great to have friends and loved ones to talk with about life. Simply the act of talking things out can many times shed light on the good side of experiences rather than dwelling on only the things we can see. Good friends have a way of opening our eyes to new possibilities that we haven’t considered. But if a verbal expression isn’t available for you all the time, you may want to try writing down your thoughts. Journaling is known by many as a therapeutic form of expressing what is built up in our thinking. Getting those thoughts out of our heads can be helpful in helping us see the good things in life for which to be grateful.
Walk through open doors
Speaking for myself, when doors of interest slam shut in my face, it becomes discouraging very quickly! And when I try repeatedly to open those doors, it only leads to more frustration. On the other hand, remaining open and active in the opportunities that God opens to us brings peace and a whole lot more contentment.
Go to nature
I’ve seen this method work time and again with young children. Getting outdoors to nature brings a feeling of relaxation and calm like nothing else. It makes sense that God—the Creator of people and all things in nature—would stimulate us toward being outdoors when we feel anxious in other spaces. Going outside during stressful times always brings me back to a more positive mindset.
Help others in need
Another way to think in positive terms is to take our focus off ourselves and put it on others. We all know the warm feeling that comes when we give gifts to others for their birthday or at Christmas. This emotion can be felt throughout the year while giving of ourselves in other ways. Have you considered serving in your church or community? There are so many volunteer opportunities around us to provide services of all kinds to those in need. Simply do a search in your area for volunteering to see what comes up.
Hopefully, your mind has been sparked to think of ways you can have a more positive outlook in the days ahead. It takes coming to the point of looking around to see opportunities God has placed in our paths already for relationship with others and acknowledgment of the Lord’s blessings in our lives.