The Decision That Defines You: Choosing Joy Over Circumstance
Today, right now, is the moment you get to make a decision for the rest of your life.
Think about that. There are circumstances that may come our way that we cannot control. However, the truth is our lives are directed more by our decisions then our circumstances.
For many of us, we have been conditioned to believe that happiness is based greatly upon our circumstances and having a nice and convenient life. I had been conditioned that way for years. We want the perfect guy or girl of our dreams, the one who will ‘complete’ us. We want a lot of money in our bank account. We want to be more popular, have the perfect family. We want to be more successful, smarter, more fit, get the last scoop of the ice cream- You know what I am talking about. Human nature tends to foster feelings of dissatisfaction with life, causing a longing and coveting of things we don’t have, can’t have, had and lost. FOMO is real.
When we focus on what we don’t have, unhappiness will follow, bringing with it sadness, depression, anger and resentfulness. It can become the gateway to jealousy and envy, leading us to lose appreciation of what we do have. We can start to feel having a lack of these things will forever deprive us of happiness again. We lose hope.
This presumption couldn’t be further from the truth. True happiness; joy, peace, and contentedness isn’t a result of the comfort of our life. It comes from the comfort of our heart.
Joy is a result of our daily choices, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. Many people choose to take on an attitude of discontent, locking themselves away in a dungeon of despair. “I can’t, it’s unfair, things will never change, I will always struggle, I’m unloved, I’m a victim” play havoc in our minds. Old familiar recordings that take us down.
Did you know that what we think is what we become?
One of the first goals I make for the day is to linger on good things, hopeful things, God’s goodness, dreams I have. Focusing on the good in my life that I have now.
I strive to direct my mind away from dwelling on things I can do nothing about that waste my time and energy, taking me to a place of worry and frustration. If I don’t, the negative thoughts will take advantage and flood my mind, and become a joy-kill for the day.
There are times, though, that the battle becomes bigger than ourselves, and we can’t seem to redirect. We get stuck and need some help outside of ourselves.
When this happens, it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. But here are some actions that are helpful when applied-
Make sure you are building yourself a good community of friends and family to do life with. We all need our tribe.
Get outside. Go somewhere that speaks life to you. A walk. The beach. Mountains. A good movie. The mall. Find what works for you.
Make sure you are exercising, eating well and getting enough sleep. One of my favorite sayings is, “Sleep is a weapon”.
Journal. It’s amazing how much can flow from the head to the paper. It can truly be therapeutic.
Play some uplifting music. Music is a powerful thing.
Find a good book to read, fiction or non-fiction. Something that speaks to you. Just as long as it is encouraging to you.
Find a trusted friend to talk with, cry with, and laugh with. None of us were created to do life alone.
Find a mentor or a coach.
Reach out for professional help when we are stuck. Find a good counselor to help untie the knots of life when it seems they can’t be untied, even with a good support system.
Above all else, though, spend time with God. Daily. Ask for wisdom, guidance and intervention. Then listen for His voice. Trust Him. Get to know Him. Time with Him is where you gain insights and wisdom beyond your ability.
I do not believe that God brings bad things into our lives. That is not in His character. The Bible speaks of Him as the Father of lights, and that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. His love for us is greater than we can even imagine.
We do live in a broken world, though, where loss and pain coexist with joy and goodness. It can be tough and very dark at times. This is where we hang on tightly to the Lord, growing in our trusting Him.
Corrie Ten Boom, a holocaust survivor has a quote that I love.
“When a train goes through the tunnel and gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer”.
What I have discovered is that circumstances that seem so overwhelming are opportunities for me to trust God in a way I couldn’t before. What good is faith if it’s never tested? In the hand of God, He will use difficult circumstances to grow and develop me, if I am willing. His strength is made great in my weakness. When we put our trust in Him and move forward in the face of adversity, we become stronger. As we conquer our battles, our perspective changes. We develop deep roots. We become more anchored. It is scary going through a storm. But honestly, that’s when we dig in, finding the rock to hold on to.
So, beginning with this moment, what is your life to be? What say you? I hope with all my heart, your journey leads you to a life so much more full and rich than you could even imagine.
Remember, today, right now, is when the rest of your life begins.
Want to talk about it? Set up a time to talk with me today! You can do that right HERE.