A Penny for Your Thoughts

Do our thoughts really matter? Do the things we think about really affect our lives? I believe they do. Because where we put our thought energy is where we will direct our lives. Perhaps that is why pessimistic people remain so, and optimistic people are forever looking forward, believing that good can come from any situation. 

Let’s back this thought train up a bit. Think about what occupies your thoughts the most. Do the burdens of life crowd your impressions of the day? Do you have control over your thoughts? Can you push away negative thoughts that threaten to overburden you? 
This isn’t always easy to do.

It seems to me that negative thoughts get caught up in a cycle of repetition. Something we’ve done or said that we later regret plays over and over in our minds, making the situation seem worse than it really is and making us feel worse in the process. 

Can we stop the cycle? Is it possible to look for a positive spin on the problem and force a new thought to overcome the abrasive one? I wonder, could this be as simple as living with gratitude?

Spending time worrying about paying the mortgage or other bills won’t get them paid. Worry only causes distress that can manifest itself into physical symptoms of illness. As I lay down to sleep at night, I could toss and turn worrying about the future. But I don’t. Instead I choose to end my day by giving my thoughts to God. With thoughts of thankfulness for the day and gratitude that I have a warm home and a place to sleep, I drift off into a peaceful slumber. 


"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34 (NIV)


Is this what it means to hold our thoughts captive? Giving our worries to God? And perhaps not just our worries, but also those thoughts that threaten our peace? In our humanness, our minds may wander to less than ideal thoughts. We need to hold those thoughts captive and present them to God. I’ll bet we’ll stop thinking unclean thoughts in a hurry if we know we have to be accountable for them.

So what will it take to capture our thoughts, to make our minds obey the rules we lay down? Consistency, in not allowing our thoughts to stray where they shouldn't, and realizing when we have lost control. When our thoughts wander and threaten our peace, we will have to seize them, acknowledging them before God, and relinquish their power over us. 

With practice, our thoughts will become more consistent with the lifestyle that the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."  2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)


  
 
As we endeavor to improve our thought processes, we will invariably fall prey to the vicious cycles of negative thinking that threaten our peace of mind. We won't always experience completely forward progress, and that's okay. What is important, I think, is to gain an awareness that we are able to exercise control over own thoughts. And through prayer and communion with the Holy Spirit, we can give our fears and worrisome thoughts to God, freeing our minds to focus on what is really important - the beauty of life, and living each day in the example of Christ. 

Blessings on your journey.

Our Unique Self

What would your dream job be? Have you ever thought about what it would it take for you to be working in your preferred vocation?

The work week begins. Dragging yourself out of a warm bed while it’s still dark and preparing to be out in the world for another day takes much more energy than it should.

How wonderful would it be if everyone could work in their career of choice. Imagine having excitement for your job and being filled with enthusiasm as you begin each work day. 

Believe it or not, that is the way it should be! If we can find a career path that challenges and excites us, our work can make us feel energized instead of drained.

And if we can’t change our job, perhaps we can view it in a different light. Sometimes changing our perspective can change our outlook. What do you bring to your position that is uniquely 'you'? Can you expand on an aspect of your job that you enjoy the most?

 

Not everyone can be a superstar athlete or movie star, but we can find fulfillment in positions that are far less glamorous. Each of us has gifts and talents and something special to share with the world. We need to realize our unique gifts and understand how we can bring our own energy into the workplace.

Finding that role is our challenge. Do you like working with people, sharing your smile and perhaps brightening someone’s day? It means so much to have a courteous and friendly individual assisting in the many service-oriented occupations. It is a great gift to be able to provide that for your patrons.

Is there something you have always dreamed of pursuing as a career? A position that you feel would bring you fulfillment and offer an opportunity for you to share your unique talents with the world?

The first step is to identify what makes you feel energized. Do you enjoy being with people or working alone? Is there a particular career path you’ve always wished you could pursue? One that you thought you would follow “someday”?

Take some time and self-reflection to discern what career would inspire you to get out of bed in the morning and make you look forward to going to work. Then follow through with the necessary steps to pursue your dream job.

This may require taking some classes or gaining certification in your field. For myself, as I pursue a new career in freelance writing, I am participating in writing workshops and conferences to gain knowledge of the writing industry. I plan to travel in May to the Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference. I view this as my continuing education, and look forward to the opportunity to learn more about myself and my goals as a writer.


If you have moved beyond your career and are enjoying retirement, do you still desire to share your gifts and life experiences? Is there some way that you would like to share the knowledge you have gained with future generations? You might consider an opportunity in volunteering. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful, and would allow many to benefit from your years of experience. 

Finding our passion in life may help set us on a course for change. Through prayer and reflection we can discern our path as we look forward to the satisfaction of sharing our best selves with the world.

Wherever you can find the best use of your talents, whether within your current field or through choosing a new career path, the time and energy spent in aligning your work with your aspirations will be rewarded in renewed energy and excitement. And the world will surely benefit when each of us shares our ideas and our unique selves.

When the Sun Won’t Shine

Overcast skies. Fog. Gloom. I wonder, is weather a state of mind? It is for me, as I am much more likely to feel sunny myself when the sun is shining. When the day is gloomy and gray, I’d just as soon stay in bed and take a nice nap.

And when the sun isn’t shining in my heart, life feels dreadful. Sometimes sadness overcomes me and I feel like I can’t go on.  When my heart is sad, gloomy and gray, I feel like the clouded skies. There ‘s no hope in sight. Gray clouds stretch from horizon to horizon, and the weariness on my heart seems endless, too.

Have you ever flown on an airplane, climbing up through a bank of clouds? Sometimes it’s so thick you wonder how the pilot can see. The moisture-laden clouds streak droplets of water across the window. All is dark and gray.

Then suddenly, you are in a different world! The plane breaks through the tops of the clouds and it’s a new day! The sun is blazing and reflecting off a sea of cottony looking clouds that create shapes in the dips and valleys, and reach high peaks to look like the tops of mountains piercing through the thick, white stratum.

The realization of this glorious sunlight atop the clouds is a good perspective to keep. All that can be seen from below the clouds is gray and gloomy. Yet just above that thick layer of clouds, the warmth of the sun is blazing. Surely it won’t be long before the sun breaks through the clouds and changes the view of the landscape below.

And when it is stormy in my life, and I feel heavily laden with worries or despair, it helps to keep a perspective that it won’t always be this way. I try to remember that tomorrow is another day and things will change.

I woke this morning to dim morning light revealing clearer skies. Indeed the troubles of yesterday had floated out to sea, and the growing light revealed the stormy skies had passed. It was another reminder to remember that nothing stays the same. Change is the only constant in life.

So bask in the light when life brings you sunshine. And when we have gray days, and we will, it helps to keep the perspective that whatever problems we are dealing with will surely resolve with time. Don’t get overwhelmed. Step back and take a deep breath. And try to remember that tomorrow the skies will change, and you will be dealing with a completely different day.

Yesterday is gone. Live for today, with great hope for tomorrow

What is Destiny?

Is there something inside you that feels like it is pulling you toward a goal? Sort of like a nagging feeling that vies for your attention?

The way I feel it is almost annoying, disturbing. It causes me unrest. Like there is something more I need to do. Something calling me forward. Like the universe is asking more of me.

What is it I need to do? What drives us to achieve? Is it to fulfill what is thought of as our destiny?

Our future stretches out before us into the unknown. What guides us in the choices we make? Do you ever wonder if you had chosen to go a different way what might have been altered in your life?

There’s no going back, that’s for certain. So we look to the future with hope. Each part of our lives is a new chapter, and we have the ability to write it.

But is any of it predestined? Are there forces that somehow determine the outcome?

We are creatures of free will. Our Maker saw to it that we would have the drive inside each of us to choose our own path. Nothing says that once we are on a certain route that we can’t veer off to another destination. We can, at any time, change our direction and follow a new course.

So what is our destiny? It would be comforting for our journey to trust that we have the protection and care of providence on our side. Either through nature or Divine intervention, we could know that we are cared for as we step into our future.

Do you believe in kismet - the idea that our lives are controlled by fate? Fate would dictate that events in our life are predetermined and out of our control. Or perhaps fate is the guiding force that leads us in our decision-making.

What about God’s will for our lives? Could this be the unseen force that draws us to reach further, to want to know Him and use the talents and gifts He has given us for His glory?

Whether we believe in fortune or chance, the truth is we don’t know what guides us in the choices we make in our lives. Many of us feel comfort through prayer. When a difficult decision looms, and we are uncertain of our path, we pray to God for guidance. It is our hope that God will show us the way we are to go.

Life is all about choices. Each of us has the power to choose the path we will follow. Right or wrong. It is our free will. But it would do us well to draw on whatever energies we feel may guide us in making the choices that feel right for us. Emotions can clog our perception. It is best to take our time in seeking the pathway for our lives. Pray for guidance. And trust your instincts.

To live a life fulfilled, we need to satisfy the desires of our heart. Master your own destiny. But do it with guidance from a higher power.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

"Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow." Psalm 25:4 

Seeking Inner Peace

We live in a world of whim. What we think we desperately need to get us through the day will change in a matter of minutes. The things we desire to purchase will bring us only momentary satisfaction.

What we really need is inner peace, and that can be hard to find. I wish it were as simple as a shopping trip to a nearby store. But it’s not. It takes work. It takes focusing our thoughts away from our troubles and putting our eyes on the One who can truly offer us peace.

 

The pathway to finding peace is different for each one of us. There are many meditative arts that calm the mind and soothe the spirit. From my own experience, I find yoga to be very relaxing and invigorating. My focus is on my breath, breathing in and out, being conscious of how my body responds to that breath, the rise and fall of the abdomen, the fresh oxygen coursing through my bloodstream. Just breathe. There, now don’t you feel better already?

Walks in nature make me feel lighthearted. No matter how cold it is, I find myself walking along with a silly smile on my face. All is forgotten except for the next step, one foot placed in front of the next, watching, observing, and enjoying my surroundings.

Perhaps what both of these activities have in common is concentration. During yoga, while I focus on form and balance, the emphasis is on my breath. No outside thoughts are allowed to interfere. It’s just me and my body, and the concentration of energy within myself.

When I am hiking in nature, the world of buildings and roads is left far behind. My focus is on the natural world and the beauty to be found in all seasons. When I am in nature, my alertness to my surroundings focuses my concentration. I am observant of the surface on which I walk as well as the nearby terrain and surroundings landscape. Perhaps this focus takes my mind off of everyday problems, because I seldom worry when I am out in nature. And if a concern comes to mind for someone, I simply pray and give that concern to the powers of the universe.

Each of us needs to find our source of peace and contentment. We need to shut off the video screens of our electronics and reconnect with the natural world outside of and within ourselves. The true inner peace we seek begins with knowing ourselves intimately, and learning to trust our judgment in the choices we make.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27