Today in my reflections, I thought about the many obstacles and hindrances that come our way, attempting to move us from a positive mindset to thinking negative thoughts that are unproductive to our progress. I'll tell you the number one opposition to your positive attitude. ARE YOU READY FOR THIS ???? "PEOPLE". Yup, I know you agree that yeah we all hate bad situations but its when we encounter rude, disrespectful, unkind, unprincipled, obnoxious, negative, deceitful and dishonest people, we struggle the most to keep a positive attitude. I am sure I left out many other adjectives that could have fit in my curtailed description but I am sure you get the drift. How do we maintain or dodge the negative influences of their behavior and protect what we have worked so hard to develop. Here is what I think even intensifies the blow. Its when the people are within our inner circles like family, friends, parents, siblings, co-workers or team members. When you are blind sided from an unexpected source of negativity. What do we do and how do we respond rather than react without thinking?
Ok, here is a bit of advice amongst the many other wise thoughts that may be offered.
1. Sometimes we think that we need to react by telling someone off or teaching them a lesson, when they have wronged us. The truth is that sometimes its more profitable to put your energy into protecting your peace than in causing another's unrest. Its not worth our time or energy. Character here is proven in what you refuse to say rather than what you actually do say. Don't get this confused with being weak and non-confrontational because every situation is different. Regardless of the situation, in the end you have the power to control your behavior not theirs, so do yourself a favor and do what's best for you.
2. I like the Apostle Paul in Phil 3:13 , he uses this life principle. "Forgetting those things that lie behind and pressing forward towards things that are before". I like that... We sometimes just need to put some things behind us and press forward to the future where the best opportunities are yet to come. You see many of us, if caught without something to press forward to would have no urgent reason to leave issues behind. Some things are just not worth your time, stressing yourself out with people who refuse to change. Know when its time to say, "I got to press on, my future needs me!"
3. Paul gives another powerful life principle when in chapter four of Philippians verses 11-13, He shows that in life we must show contentment in what ever situation we face because we have the strength to do it through Christ's strength that worketh in us. This really shows our maturity in life when we can smile in the face of an insult or give when we're being stolen from. This isn't good just in theory but its practical and it works. Let them talk and wish you bad, whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap. You just don't allow them to make you sow seeds you don't want to harvest. Keep your fields with good seed no thorns.
A positive attitude is more than a good feeling, it is a positive conviction that subtends on an unmovable truth. Stay positive, and take the high road.
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