Day 30 - Recommendations for the ungrateful heart
Scripture focus: My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 (The Message)
Yesterday's devotional suggested that our attitude of gratitude is a decent measuring stick for whether or not we're living deeply rooted in God's love. What happens if we discover that we aren't particularly grateful?
Recommendations for the ungrateful heart
- Pity parties - ones that are attended rarely and where the guests leave early - are sometimes helpful. It's okay to host a pity party. Keep them to a minimum, and for heaven's sake - show up late and leave early!
- Make a gratitude list. You can keep a running total of gratitude, build a new one each day, laminate it and make copies - so that you can review your list on a regular basis. This is particularly helpful during times of high stress.
- Limit your interaction with the extremes. Perpetual perkiness is annoying and downright relapse friendly, as is time spent with the pessimistic at heart. Find a good friend who listens well and patiently but also is able to provide trusted feedback and balance to your story. I appreciate my friends who listen and empathetically reflect back my words. But I really, really appreciate the ones who, having done all that great listening, might add some personal insight of their own. Remember, you don't want a friend who says, "Well, you think you've got troubles! My situation is much worse than that!"
- Exercise, especially when you don't feel like it.
- Get outside in the sun. Only twenty minutes is enough to provide a big boost.
- Treat yourself in some way that doesn't complicate your life. I avoid anything that is illegal, immoral or fattening. I like going to the library and checking out a book on tape, then listening to it as I travel in my car. This avoids the worrying I might choose to do during my drive.
- List or speak to another about the issues, fears and concerns in your life that are stealing your joy. But don't dwell on them. Maybe make a list. But don't post it on your mirror - tuck it away. Once told or written, do not give your brain permission to dwell on the problem.
- After you've given yourself a break from your worries, make an appointment with yourself or a good support team to begin the work of solving the problem. Procrastination, freezing up with anxiety, and avoidance increase stress.
These are some of the things that work for me. Perhaps you guys have others, and can make suggestions on the NorthStar Community facebook page, or on the devotional blog....
Recommended reading: Proverbs 8-9
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