Thankful vs. Negative

Do you find yourself in a bad mood, some days?  Would you like it to stop?  Are you generally happy and want to stay that way?  Well, I have just the thing for you! 

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for people to pick on people or for you to pick on yourself?  It’s not because we are surrounded by bad people or losers.  It’s not because we are a bad person or a loser “at life”.  It is simply because none of us are perfect!  There are so many awesome people in this world that I love and respect and all of them are not perfect.  I’m NOT perfect either, but that has nothing to do with how much I am loved or you are loved.

So you might wonder what this has to do with being happy.  Well, here is my answer to being happy…Be a Thankful Person!  Be a Person that Looks for the Blessings In Front of Them and Thank God for Them!  When I changed the way I prayed with thankfulness, it not only changed my relationship with God, but also all my relationships with family, friends and myself.  Here are some simple steps that I took to be become a Thankful Person:

1. Know that God and His Son, Jesus, love you very much! (no matter how imperfect you are)
2. Make time to pray everyday, even if it is only for 5 min.
3. When you pray start by giving thanks.  Examples: Thank Jesus for what He has done for you.  Thank Him for loving you.  Thank God for your family and friends.  Thanks, for the ability to run, see, hear, sing, and breathe.  Thanks for living in a Free Country. Thanks for those things that made you laugh today.  Thanks Him for giving you the courage to go on that retreat.  THANK GOD FOR WHATEVER YOU WANT THAT MADE OR MAKES YOUR LIFE BETTER.  ***When you give thanks EVERY Day, you don’t forget those things to be thankful for.  If you don’t do this every day, it is easier to become more aware of the problems you have (because most people pray for those).
4. When you pray, here is an easy system that you can do in as little as 5 minutes:
• Spend 2 minutes praying for what you are thankful for.
• Spend 2 minutes praying for the things that others need.
• Spend 1 minute praying for what you need.
• Always end by thanking God for listening and pray that His will be done in your life.  Remember this passage:“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

• Jeremiah 29:11

5. Look for the good in yourself and the people you meet.  If this is hard, pray that Jesus show you the good in whomever you struggle with (even yourself).  Even if you don't see very much the first time, if you keep looking and doing the first 3 steps you will.
6. Extra Step for us that need an extra push:  Know that you are not alone and there are people here to help you.  Just as God is here to listen and be there for you, so are your parents, youth ministers, friends, etc.  Let them know how you feel, so they know.  They also know you better than some and can be there to listen, to make you laugh, to take you to a movie, to pray with you.  They may help you see things that you couldn’t see yourself.  They also may just change your mood for no reason except because that you spent time together.

****When nothing seems to help and you feel unhappy all the time, some people need to see somebody like a counselor or a psychologist.  Some of my favorite people in my life have gone to one of these (or both) and it did great things for them because they needed somebody “outside of their world” to give them their perspective and thoughts.

I’m not a professional on being happy, but I have found that people who walk with gratitude (Thankfulness) in their hearts are usually much happier than those that are focused on what they don’t have or the things that they don’t like about other people or themselves.  Think about how joyful our world would be if we all recognized the blessings we’ve experienced and that are in front of us.

I am thankful for you reading my blog and I pray that you find yourself feeling greatly loved and blessed today.  I pray you find yourself smiling and laughing more.  I pray that every tear you have is of joy and love.  I pray you develop a life of joy with a thankful heart!

You are Loved,

Tom