Staying Positive in a Negative World

In case you haven’t noticed we are living in a period of history when there is a good deal of negativity. Perhaps that’s not too different from other times, but this is our time and so it’s notable. I hear it in people’s words when they say things like, “I don’t like the way things are going . . . (fill in the blank: at work, in our country, with the church, etc.)” We hear it in the news media – one report after another of “bad” news. We see it in the behaviors and countenance of others. Seems to me the world – or at least the part of it that I see regularly – is in a rather grumpy mood. Some people are trying to capitalize on this by stirring up even more negativity, projecting violence onto others, or just being difficult to be around.

So, what to do? What is our response, particularly as people of “Good News”, to life in such a negative climate? While I am no expert in this field, over the past few years I’ve tried to adopt some personal behaviors and live by some decisions that help me stay positive in this negative environment. Do I succeed all the time? No, but I offer these steps to you, here, in hopes they might prompt your own decisions and actions of positive preservation.

• Start your day with the Lord. How you begin a day will set the trajectory for that day. If you begin it with the consumption of bad news, it’s hard to turn the corner from that. Why not start the day with God? My practice is to start even the most busy day by reading a morning devotional thought and having a time of prayer. Currently I’m using the App Lectio 365. Check it out!
• Cultivate your prayer life. Prayer, at its core, is conversation with God. Try to be in an ongoing conversation with the Lord throughout a day. Don’t forget conversation includes “listening” – so build some times of reflection, quiet and listening into your routine. But take whatever it is that comes into your mind, or your path, to the Lord in prayer too.
• Limit your news intake. I cannot begin to express to you the difference this has made for me. I listen to a daily news podcast almost everyday as I’m driving or getting dressed that gives me some headlines. I might check out the local news for the weather forecast, and occasionally partake of the national evening news. But I refuse to be consumed by the talking heads of cable news, the angry rants of social media, or other mediums which simply rehearse the same diatribes over and over. As with nutrition, you become what you consume!
• Think on Good Things. Paul wrote to the Church at Philippi (Phil 4:8ff NIV) …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. These words of Scripture often come back to me during especially dark or discouraging times. There is much that is good, noble, edifying, beautiful and admirable in the world – starting with creation itself. A friend often used to say, “you are who or what you surround yourself with”. Think on good things.
• Serve Others. Get outside yourself. Live beyond yourself. Give yourself away to others. Serve others. Love one another. Pray for others. When we change our focus from inward to outward we often change our thinking along with our living. We move away from thoughts of self-pity or self-absorption to realize there are many others who need company, a listening ear, a compassionate visit, or just a kindness.
• End Your Day with Thanksgiving. An ancient spiritual practice of the Church called “The Examen” offers the template for ending one’s day with reflection. Ask: What was good about this day? Where did I see God at work today? What am I thankful for in this day? Collecting those thoughts and then expressing thanksgivings is a great way to close down a day as you continue that conversation with God into the blessed rest of sleep.

While there seem to be those who relish the thought that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, I choose not to join them. Negativity simply breeds more negativity. Let’s live as people of Good News!