Shifting My Perspective: On-going Effort to Stop Negative Thought Patterns in their Tracks

My hubby and I got a chance to escape to Miami, Florida, just the two of us, to celebrate my fortieth birthday. I can't even express how grateful I am for this experience. It's such a gift, and I don't take it for granted, not for a second.

Lately, I've been working on improving how I think about things. Sometimes, though, I'd catch myself falling into those old negative thought patterns. But now, thanks to the work I've been putting in, and to the Lord for guiding me through it, I can spot those negative thoughts much quicker and shut them down. I'm sharing this because, like me, you might lean towards seeing the glass as half empty. Maybe you tend to focus on problems rather than solutions, or your mind drifts towards worst-case scenarios and gloomy outcomes instead of believing that 'all things work together for good.' If that's you, know that I've been there, and I truly believe we can change. Our brains are pretty flexible and can be rewired. Ask the Lord to help you. I believe if you ask, He will begin illuminating your thought-life to you and gently show you how to change it.

Let me tell you about our vacation and where I noticed the negativity creeping in. The first two days in Miami were absolutely perfect – the sun was shining, the waves were gentle, and we were having a blast. I'm a total sunshine lover, especially when I'm on vacation. But on the third and fourth days, things changed. Strong winds picked up, and the sky got cloudy because of some high-pressure weather. It wasn't the ideal weather I had in mind, and that's when I started to get a bit down.

My hubby and I tried to enjoy the beach, but the winds were so strong that it just wasn't working. The ocean was too rough for swimming, and there was even a double red flag warning. I found myself wishing for better weather and feeling frustrated about our situation. A dark cloud of negativity started to hang over me, and my mood took a nosedive. But then I realized I had a choice to make.

I decided to stop those negative thoughts and accept the reality we were in. I prayed for guidance. The truth was, it was a windy day, and there was no changing that. We couldn't stay on the beach comfortably. Instead of wallowing in disappointment, I decided to be thankful that I was at the beach with my hubby. I embraced the wind and appreciated the break from the heat. I stopped fighting reality and started working with it. We ended up renting bikes and explored 25 miles of Miami Beach, which turned out to be a fantastic adventure. The wind even became a blessing, cooling us off as we rode, and it turned into a different kind of perfect day.

Life is just like this, right? We often try to deny what's happening, wishing for different circumstances instead of accepting what's in front of us. But that doesn't really get us anywhere. It just keeps us frustrated and anxious for longer. The quicker we accept what's real, the sooner we can enjoy life to the fullest. Living in denial or not truly accepting our circumstances leaves us feeling unsatisfied. We can pretend everything is fine, but deep down, our bodies know it's not. There's likely stress simmering, ready to boil over. We can't fool ourselves. Instead, we need to fully accept what is, see the situation, and embrace it without wishing it away. We don't have to pretend we're happy when we're not. We can acknowledge our sadness, feel it, let it pass through us, and then move on. The sooner we do this, the sooner we can find real peace, no matter the situation.

I love the verses in Philippians 4:8 & 9 (This is the message version) “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.” I feel like the Lord is showing us here that we have a choice as to what we dwell on. Yes, negative thoughts will come, it’s inevitable but we can ask the Lord to help us change. We can invite the Lord into our thought life and help us to dwell on those things that are beautiful. That doesn’t always mean a new circumstance, but instead a new perspective.

“Sometimes all we need is just a new perspective”