For the last two weeks, I've let life circumstances
drain me. I profess faith, but have been walking out fear. I believe in hope, but have given in to gloom. I have been staring at the problem instead of focusing on the solution. I’ve been condemning “what isn’t,” instead of being grateful for “what is.”
The result: misery. None of my beliefs matter if I’m walking out something different.
Today when I hit the sidewalk for my morning walk, I was greeted by a stark contrast in the sky.
To the left I saw puffy, white clouds floating over brilliant blue sky, and to the right, ominous dark clouds covered the sun and cast shadows over the land. The two extremes overlapped in the center.
I felt like I
was staring at my life, and realized my focus has been in the wrong direction. Light was also available, but I had so blinded myself that I was missing it.
There are multiple difficulties we are presently facing including
our stalled home-building situation, plus we have been nursing a very sick kitty. These “storms” have been persistent for weeks and months, progressively robbing me of peace and hope, even though I know better.
I recently
read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. He saw again and again that people would die when they lost hope. However with hope, he documented that people could overcome even the most unbearable circumstances. They had to believe things could get better in the future to maintain their daily hope.
Nursing our problems can become as habitual as any substance or process addiction. People recovering from addictions use the slogan, “One day at a time,” and sometimes “One moment at a time.” The same can be applied to a mindfulness practice of hope when trying to kick the habit of fear, negativity and worry.
We don’t have the power to choose what happens every day, but we absolutely have the power to choose how we feel every day, and moment by moment. The question we each have to answer is, “Am I ready to stop feeling bad?”
But, but… No buts! It doesn’t mean that what’s happening is okay. Choosing to feel better simply means choosing NOT to wallow in the bad feelings, waiting for things to change. We can make the time and effort to feel good now, right this very minute.
An hour at a time, or a moment at a time, we can track and celebrate what we have to be grateful for. That is within our control.
While I can’t change how I have walked these challenges out over the last few weeks, I can change how today goes. If you’re struggling with something, you get to determine how you face this day also.
My focus will be on the slivers of blue sky, knowng there’s a whole lot more of that to come. In fact, it’s already there underneath the clouds—more to be revealed. Of this we can be sure, clouds never last. Storms never go on and on without end. Weather experts can confirm that in most places, blue sky is the norm, not storms.
Today, let's feed hope and starve fear, worry, anger, and negativity. For the next thirty minutes, commit to focusing on what makes you feel hopeful. As you go through this day, make a mental note every time you see reason to hope and be thankful.We will
find the gifts when we're looking in the right direction.
