I live in New Hampshire. It is an amazing state with forests and mountains and rivers and lakes and hills and cities and farms and fields!
Did I make you jealous for a second?
Or did your mind immediately jump to good things about where you live?
Being able to see the good in what you have is the key to happiness because it’s the key to a thankful mind.
And even though I might have stirred some envy in you for a brief second, you should know that I don’t always see the beauty of my state.
Last fall I was dreading winter. I didn’t want to experience snow and darkness. It’s part of where I live though. I had to specifically prepare myself to find the good. It was an effort, but I worked at it. I decided to focus on the word, “Cozy.” That gave me a challenge and a goal for that specific season, and I worked at it. I crocheted and I found colorful twinkly lights to put up in my apartment and I felt grateful for the flames in my pellet stove at night. I made soup and I bundled up for sledding. I drank hot drinks and had movienights (which work better when it’s dark out!). It was really good, and then winter was over.
When spring started I was so excited! I decided that this year, spring will be my favorite season. I used to love winter, then I loved autumn, and for the last two years I’ve loved summer. I’ve never really cared for spring before because of all the mud and how cold the rivers still are. But this year I chose spring and have focused on all the good in it – the ground is no longer frozen and I can run around barefoot and get my garden started (sadly half of my garden got wiped out already, more on that later), I smell so many wonderful flowers outside, and I can sit in the grass and feel the sun again!
And then today I realized – I can enjoy every season just as much as the next if I train my brain to think that way, and celebrate each for their differences! I can cultivate a mind that is programmed to be positive, which is what God teaches:
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:8-9 (CSB)
9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.
11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself.
12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.
13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
I have been especially trying to focus on what is lovely, recently. I have found that my experience with despair has been strongest when I am not able to see blessings around me.
In college there was a motto for all the choirs – the best choir to be in is the one you’re in! Life is so much better when we stop looking around and wishing and instead decide to work with what we’ve got. That means that even if you are experiencing hardship and you look forward to change in the future, you’re willing to be thankful for everything God is doing for you along the way, just like Paul.
Let’s cultivate thoughts that please God and naturally create joyful emotions. 🙂
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