MMM 6.15.15 - A Positive Attitude Part 3

Two weeks ago in my MMM (Monday Morning Memo), I shared that to begin to have a more positive attitude, we need to start by looking inward.  We need to begin to see ourselves through God’s eyes because we are precious and honored in His sight.

Last week I wrote that I think we also need to look upward. We need to do something every day to lift someone else up.  We can become too focused on us and forget that there are people all around us that need a lift too.

 

Thirdly, I think it is important for us to look outward.  We need to evaluate our surroundings to see if there is something or someone that is causing us to see our life as half empty all the time.  Is there an underlying peace around us or is their usually chaos?  I think several things can cause us to live in chaos and turmoil and they are things that we can have control of if we just make a point to do it.

First of all, we need to evaluate whether or not we are organized in what we do on a daily basis.  I have found that being unorganized can turn a good day into a very stressful day rather quickly.  If you aren’t a very prepared person as you face each day, things will go into the toilet rather quickly. 

We all seem to be able to find excuses.  Well, my mom was never organized so I’m not.  Well if you had to live with the family I live with…or if you had to work with the people I work with…you would understand why I’m not prepared.  Unfortunately, excuses aren’t going to get the work done and if the work doesn’t get done, you probably won’t have to worry whether your cup is half empty or half full, because you probably won’t even have a cup!

Paying attention to details can make all the difference in the world as to how we face our daily responsibilities.  Having trouble seeing your cup as half full?  Check to see how organized your surroundings are.  There are all kinds of resources that can help you work on a plan to get your environment more organized and running more smoothly.

Another thing to consider when you look outward is who are you spending your time with on a daily basis.  I’m sure you have heard the saying that “misery loves company”.  Oh how true that is.  Miserable people tend to migrate towards other miserable people.  Unhappy people get consolation from knowing that others are unhappy too and you have a choice as to whether you are going to allow their negativity to affect you are not.  And if you are allowing those around you to invade your mind with negativity you can expect to see your cup as half empty. 

It is also a good idea, as you look outward, to evaluate what you are filling your mind with on a daily basis.   There sure is a lot of garbage out there, isn’t there?  Most of us watch the news, but a steady diet of it can depress you rather quickly.  There are very few heart warming news segments.  And the more you digest all the negativity in this world, the less room there is in your cup for the positive.

It isn’t just the news that can affect us.  Some of the reading material we pick up doesn’t leave us feeling very positive either.  Oh it might seem pretty harmless to pick up that steamy romance book or pornographic magazine or flip on that raunchy soap opera, but what happens when you are brought back to reality and realize that your life isn’t anything like those characters or actors that you just read about or watched on TV.  Their lives seemed so exciting and adventurous and you have to deal with sick kids, aging parents and a boss who doesn’t ever notice all the hard work you do.

As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, comparisons can lead us down a path that we really don’t want to follow.  Maybe you aren’t comparing yourself to a fictional character in a book or magazine or on TV, but that neighbor of yours sure seems to have it better than you do.  Her husband seems to always come home on time each night and is always bringing her flowers and chocolate. 

What about that guy that works in the office next to you?  His wife is able to work two jobs, attend all her kids’ extra curricular activities and still has time to plant a garden.  As I’ve said before, the more we compare the more discouraged we become because what we end up doing is comparing our weaknesses to someone else’s strengths and we are going to lose every time we do that!

Let me clue you in on a little secret.  That woman who lives next door and that man who has his office next to yours…doesn’t have a perfect life either.  I have a feeling that if you asked them, they could list all kinds of problems they have that they wish they didn’t have.  And there is a very good chance that they see something in your life that they wish they had.  Do you know what?  That’s life!  No one’s life is perfect and we need to stop dwelling on all of our negatives and start dwelling on the positives.

As you go through your week, I want to urge you to look outward.  Make sure that what you are filling your mind with and who you are allowing to influence you increases your watermark instead of sucking it dry.  Remember as Christians, we are supposed to have a positive effect on the world as we seek His Image.  That won’t happen as long as we allow the world to influence us.