Did you know that March is National Optimism Month? Ironically, March 9 is also National Panic Day! This seems to express our confused perspective of what it means to “look on the sunny side!”
I am determinedly and intentionally hopeful about life. I was carefully trained by optimistic parents to ‘on purpose’ look for the best in any situation. I’ve often had to choose that attitude as an adult when circumstances are very difficult, and people are sometimes annoyed because they think I’m not being realistic. Many believe if they expect the worst, they’ll never be disappointed.
Two conflicting life perspectives often cause friction as the pessimistic “glass-half-empty” proponents clash with the “glass-half-full” people. There’s a third, seldom acknowledged category: the opti-pessimists in the middle who consider the “glass-half-full-of-emptiness.”
Which attitude is correct? Really, none of the three is Biblically accurate. There are no specific references to “half-empty”, “half-full”; certainly not “half-full of emptiness”! But there are many references to a cup so full it is running over (Psalm 23:5), and far more than that, rivers of living water! (John 7:38) God does not offer puny, half-full cups to His children!
Too often we rely on how we feel about people and circumstances to determine our mindset. God says our mindset is to be determined by who He is, and who He has made us to be in Christ.
The mind focused on people’s right or wrong behavior will always produce the complaining, pessimistic “half empty” attitude.
The self-determined mindset elevates the thinking slightly to “the glass is half-full”.
The mind focused on God and what He is doing, even in the middle of difficult things, will have abundant, flowing rivers of true hope—a confident expectation of good from God who is only good.
Pessimism, positive-thinking-optimism and opti- pessimism are all flawed thought patterns learned from imperfect people in a sin-broken world; driven by unstable circumstances and emotions. A foundation of fluctuating feelings and situations makes it impossible to maintain a consistent positive attitude.
True optimism, joy and confidence cannot become a life-habit unless it’s based on the unchangeable, infinite nature of God.
Growing in intimacy with God; knowing Him more fully and accurately, according to His own description of Himself, increases hope—the confident expectation of good.
We cannot know God accurately and remain consistently pessimistic.
We cannot know God intimately and continue in self-pitiful complaining.
We cannot know God as infinitely unlimited and live in perpetual fear and anxiety.
The prophet Habakkuk faced tremendous cultural and economic upheaval. He described his determined, chosen mindset: “I heard, and my whole inner self trembled…my lips quivered, and down to my feet, I trembled. I will wait quietly for the day of trouble and distress when (the Assyrians) invade and oppress my people. But though the fig tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit on the vines; though the fields yield no food, the flock is cut off and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will exalt in the victorious God of my salvation! For the Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army. He will cause me to walk—not stand still in terror—
media use, says Tom Cooper, PhD, author of How to Clear Your Mind and Invigorate Your Life in an Age of Media Overload. “Your family will become closer, you’ll save time, sleep better, feel healthier, and probably even lose weight.”
If technology is adversely affecting communication in your family, a media journal is a good place to begin reducing screen time. Dieters track food consumption to know what and where to cut back. Beginning a family media diet by tracking usage can be quite an eye-opener. We’re often unaware how much time we spend on the internet, TV, and texting. Keeping a record of when a device being used and for how long, will give each one a better idea of how time is being spent. After logging for five days, decide as a family how you can spend more time engaging without screens.
Call 580-774-2884 to learn how to reduce technology-time, giving you more time to enjoy God and people.
but to walk and make progress in the high places of trouble and suffering. (Habakkuk 3:16-19 AMP) Infinite Grace Ministries replaces destructive, hopeless, complaining thought habits with hope and confidence by focusing on God’s great goodness and tender love. By praying and giving financially, you are an essential part of this ministry of hope. Please consider Infinite Grace Ministries in your year-round giving! Your generosity is an eternal investment in this and future generations. Call 580-774-2884 for information about convenient auto-debit.
Dixie Yoder
