Positivity during COVID-19 pandemic
In the Autumn of 2020, when the brink of COVID-19 was ravaging through our nation and many others, one CEO took the initiative to circulate positivity throughout her community. Venice (of Florida, not Italy) Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Kathy Lehner, brainstormed with her team on answering the question, "How can we do something for our community that's going to bring positivity and kindness and creativity all together?" Their ideas collaborated to one where they would set up lattice walls in public areas (like a library and a park) where people could write positive thoughts, affirmations, and messages of hope related to the year's ongoing pandemic on tags then tie them onto the wall. The news article ended by saying "We just have to dig deep or open our eyes and look for something good because it's there. Let's bring on 2021 in a positive way." Venice Area Chamber of Commerce launches positivity wall display (heraldtribune.com)
Paths of Choice
I suppose this CEO could have chosen not to share her idea and instead focused on the busy schedule a CEO encounters daily. Perhaps if the chain effect of her day had not taken place, she would not even stumbled on her idea at all. The article states she was golfing, then scrolling on Facebook as she was relaxing. So, if she had not taken a break or not invested in her hobby, she possibly would not have allowed her brain to relax and creativity express itself.
So, I wonder what happens when, as mommas, we get caught up in the busyness of the day and do not even notice negative thoughts creeping, settling, then suddenly running wild like chickens with their heads cut off through our minds. In the blurriness of it all, with your heart racing and blood boiling you do all you can to not lose it...which happens to everybody, doesn't it? Regardless of whether you are a mother or a CEO, right?
I Need to Put My Thinking Cap On...(Ha)
The following quote is actually a concept that makes me ponder my lifestyle and choices. It starts off light then seems to add layer upon layer. It can come off as emotionally heavy to digest. However, if you work backwards from the last word to the first, it breaks down the concept again and you are left with what you are capable of handling at the present moment.
"Sow a thought; reap an action;
Sow an action; reap a habit;
Sow a habit, reap a character;
Sow a character; reap a destiny."
- and that was thought up of and written by a guy named Samuel Smiles
So where do thoughts come from? "Scientists would argue that the thought you had was not spontaneous and random. Instead, your thought was likely a reaction to something around you." This article also vouches for what Smiles was saying in that a thought does affect our actions and imply they can become habitual: What Happens to Your Body When You're Thinking? (verywellmind.com) .
A Biblical Take on It
The Apostle Paul seemed to have some idea about the importance of mental health when he wrote this to the Philippians:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
My take on it...
verse 4: "Rejoice in the Lord always." : a call to a positive action. It's stated twice because it's important to rejoice.
verse 5: "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near": the gentleness that comes from one's character; a fruit of the Spirit. Also, a (gentle) reminder that others are impacted
How are we to rejoice and be gentle? What must happen within ourselves before we rejoice or show gentleness?
Paul answers this question in verses 6-9:
verse 6: "Do not be anxious about anything": Anything around you that's causing negative thoughts may lead to anxiety. Is Paul saying do not let your negative thoughts accumulate to anxiety? You be the judge.
verse 7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.: Because what gets into our heads affects our emotional state of being. Is saying that when we pray to a being that is capable of transcending time and space is capable of protecting our most vulnerable parts of us--our mental and emotional states of being?
<A fun little segway: Peace. A calm after the storm...Peter walks on water to Jesus. Was Jesus helping Peter understand tangibly that his anxiety about provision ....>
verse 8: "but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God": This is an encouragement for an active, not passive mindset so we do not stay stagnant in our negativity. It's teaching the reader to communicate to the One who wants to listen to our needs so that it does not stay "bottled up". It encourages the reader to communicate with thanksgiving as well: "Here's my needs and desires. I want to be listened to about this. Also, I recognize Lord you have provided me with XYZ, thank you. You show me that you do listen and that I can trust you". Also, Paul makes known in the beginning of this phrase that this criteria is boundless: "in every situation" a person can pray, petition and give thanks. <Segway: Paul was imprisoned while writing this. Paul also experienced many different kinds of trials>
verse 8: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. : Encourages the reader to fill the mind with positivity. What are the lies we think that we could replace with truths? (i.e. self-esteem issues, marriage issues). We could go down the whole list and ask ourselves to replace the negative antonym with the positive one. That is; what is immoral replace with moral values (nobility); wrong for right, etc. It now makes sense how it is possible to rejoice and show gentleness to others after thinking through anything that this list covers.
verse 9: Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I do not think Paul is bragging about himself or acting superior to others with this sentence. He is a good teacher and a good teacher demonstrates to students what concepts they are teaching. Also, good teachers have good teachers that teach them. In this case, God has taught Paul through His Spirit how to do these things. He reassures readers that God gives His Spirit to help soothe us through every situation.so that our positive thoughts become more habitual and take action (and affect our character) more so than our negative ones.
References:
1. What Happens to Your Body When You're Thinking? (verywellmind.com)
2. The Holy Bible: Philippians 4:4-9 NIV translation.
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