And just what might that decision be?
A. Your food choices to stay healthy and energized?
B. The tasks you’ll complete to use your time wisely?
C. The attitudes you’ll adopt to influence your emotions?
Author/pastor Charles Swindoll chose C: “I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude” (1).
Now why would that be? “Attitude is that ‘single string’ that keeps me going or cripples my progress,” he added.
Zig Ziglar explained the impact of attitude this way:
Science actually supports such statements.
According to an article in the British Medical Journal, “There is not a tissue or an organ in the body that is not influenced by the attitude of the mind and spirit” (2).
So the question becomes, how do we foster a positive attitude when circumstances conspire against us, or our days are a treadmill of monotonous routine, or we’re just glass-half-empty-kind-of-people by genetics?
The fact is, it’s still a matter of choice. And that choice alone wields great effect because:
“The inward impacts the outward” (3).
This principle is even evident in nature. Did you know that the color of silk can be altered depending on what is fed to the silkworms? Red dye in their food results in pink silk. Even the worms turn pink.
What we feed our minds and spirits colors our attitudes. We can choose to feast on the delights of God’s grace—his love, provision, promises, and blessings—or we can gorge ourselves on pig slop—disappointments, hurts, injustice, and the failures of others.
The Apostle Paul provided the perfect example while imprisoned in Rome. He never referred to himself as prisoner of Festus or Caesar or a victim of the Sanhedrin’s unjust treatment. He called himself a prisoner of the Lord (Ephesians 4:1), and saw his detainment as helping to spread the good news about Jesus (Philippians 1:12).
Paul also told his readers to pattern their lives after his (3:17). Years ago I wrote Wow! next to that verse in my Bible. Such a claim. But the book of Acts provides the evidence of his selflessness, integrity, and passion for Christ.
So when he wrote to the Philippian Christians from prison to rejoice in the Lord always (4:4), we can be sure he was choosing the same habit. When he recommended they focus on what’s excellent and praiseworthy (4:8), it’s a given that’s what he was doing too.
And now neuroscience has proven what God inspired Paul to write centuries ago: think positive thoughts and the brain will produce serotonin, which creates a sense of well being and helps the brain function at is best.
Think on negative thoughts and the brain produces cortisol, diminishing brain function and even causing depression (4).
https://www.azquotes.com/quote/662828
But controlling our thoughts is not easy. Here are several strategies I’ve found to be helpful:
1. Keep in God’s Word.
We’ve considered this important step before (5); it’s number one for a reason.
2. Keep coming back to the center.
Ever play tennis or watch it on TV? After every shot a player returns to the center of the court, so he’s not caught too far afield when the ball comes back. When you find your thoughts crouched in a back corner, come back to the Center: Jesus. Keep your mind happily occupied on all the ways He is excellent and praiseworthy.
3. Keep a record.
We can train ourselves to see God all around us as we keep a journal of God’s faithfulness. I began mine in 1983, in response to a Bible study (6), and now there are over 1300 entries. Just the weight of that notebook encourages my spirit.
How about a gratitude journal, to record at least one thing every day for which you’re thankful? I didn’t start that one until three years ago. It’s a delightful exercise to review God’s gifts of the day and choose one to highlight (7). It’s also fun—and spirit lifting—to look back and remember previous gifts.
Slowly but surely, the most amazing thing happens. Our joy begins to expand and we start to become transformed into our best selves—with an increased ability to live freely and enjoy God’s presence—just by choosing a better attitude through the way we think (Romans 12:2 NLT).
Notes:
- Strengthening Your Grip, p. 207
- Quoted by Selwyn Hughes in Every Day Light, p. 132.
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning by Morning, p. 335.
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prime-your-gray-cells/201108/happy-brain-happy-life
- https://nancyaruegg.com/2018/08/23/perfect-trouble/
- See https://nancyaruegg.com/2012/11/12/proving-gods-presence/ for the full story.
- The post that started my gratitude journal: https://nancyaruegg.com/2017/03/30/eating-live-frogs-and-other-blessings/
Art & photo credits: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net; http://www.canva.com; http://www.wallpaperflare.com; http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.azquotes.com; http://www.canva.com; http://www.pickpik.com; http://www.heartlight.org.
From the Inside Out 