If we convince ourselves that being in a bad,
grumpy, sour, sad, angry mood is something that happens to us and is beyond our
ability to control in any way then we will be stuck with that conclusion. And
we will be stuck with the effects of those negative emotions in our lives.
Research in the field of psychology, however, has
revealed that we can learn to recognize, fight and overcome negative emotions.
And in some particularly stubborn cases we can learn to function—even function
well—in spite of negative emotions.
Two actions that can help pull us up are: Gratitude
and Helping Others.
We have a choice in how we respond to what happens
to us. We can deny this is true and understand ourselves to be victims but the
life of victimhood is an ineffective, weak and diminished existence.
I admit I have not had to deal with some of the
profoundly difficult circumstances some of the people who are reading this post
have had to face. However, I still lovingly encourage us—with God’s help and in
light of His mercy and grace—to choose a helpful, productive, joyful response
to life.
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