How to Break out of A BAD MOOD in less than 10 seconds…..guaranteed!
Hi there grumpy! Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? Someone do a number in your corn flakes? I know the feeling….and the worst part I seldom know why I feel that way. One thing that I do know is that I despise being in a bad mood. Lucky for you (and me), there’s a quick solution.
Let’s think about this for a second. What kinds of things do we normally think or say when we’re in a bad mood? I don' know abou you but I’m the most impatient and irritable when focused on myself. I’m worried about my problems and the things that I want. This is not a percentage of the time, but every single time I’m in a bad mood it’s because of a selfish way of thinking. So what’s the 10 second solution?
Here’s how to Bust the Bad Mood Dude!
Step One:
Forget yourself….period. You don’t exist. If you don’t exist, neither do your nagging problems or whatever else you found an excuse to gripe about.
Step Two:
Find someone to serve. Do it now! Find your spouse and start a spontaneous back massage. Call a friend and tell them how much you appreciate them. Do something kind for a complete stranger. The possibilities are endless!
Upon doing this you will find that as soon as your focus is off yourself, you simply start to feel better. But then you need to shift the focus elsewhere, and where better than another person. The self imposed negative energy is converted to outward positive energy. ‘Won’t our problems still be there waiting for us?’ you may ask. Sure, if you really had any problems to start with. Let’s be honest, when we’re in a bad mood we find things to be negative about….right? It all boils down to this point: regardless of our circumstances, we chose our attitude and our behavior. The problem is that sometimes we get bogged down and have a hard time choosing to be positive, and that’s when focusing our energy on serving others will help us snap out of it. If you do have significant problems in your life then this service paradigm is exponentially more important to you because it will bring a greater feeling of peace when you most need it. In fact, it’s my opinion that serving others can do far more than cure us of a bad mood….although that’s a start. When seeking to serve others, we are serving our God. Jesus taught “what you have done unto the least of these my brethren, you have done unto me.”, and it’s my testimony this work brings us closer to God and gives us an increase of joy in this life. But what do you think? Your comments are always welcome and feel free to subscribe at the bottom of the page. Take care and until next time, God bless.
How I met Jesus in Fort Worth, Texas!
by: Jason Hughes www.figliving.com
It was about 9:00 pm and I was walking down Houston Ave in downtown Fort Worth, Texas desperately seeking a hot meal. It had been a hectic day of travel that included a full blown sprint to catch a flight, lost luggage, “misplaced” hotel reservations, and no food. It was cold, I was tired, and my quest for an authentic Tex-Mex meal was looking bleak, so I compromised and settled for some Applebee’s wanna-be. By this time I had reached caveman status so I grabbed a seat and ordered way too much food. While anxiously awaiting the arrival of my meal I tried to distract myself by reflecting on the purpose of my trip. I had traveled to Texas to attend a three-day course to be further trained in the arts of high-end residential swimming pool construction…...and I was pumped. An opportunity to learn, meet new people, and…never mind here comes my food. My meal finally hit the table and I was ready to dig in when some dirty guy taps on the window, points to his wide open mouth and lips the word “homeless”. So I kind of look down at my food for a split second and think, ‘this is awkward’, but instantly look up again to gaze at the man. But when I did it wasn’t the same person. In my eyes his appearance had completely transformed. You see, in that split second I looked down, I remembered something I had read in the Bible that changed the way I saw the world as well as everyone around me. It is one of Jesus’ teachings found in Matthew chapter 25. He taught “what you have done to the least of these your brethren you have done unto me”. When I looked out of the window the second time the person I saw was Him…..literally. So, let’s pause to ask ourselves an honest question: If Jesus tapped on your window and asked you for help how would you respond? Probably exactly as I did. I got up, went outside and talked to Him. After we exchanged a few words and I gave Him some money (I mean come on, it was Jesus, the least I could do was give Him ten bucks!). At that point his eyes welled up with tears and he said “I just want to give you a hug”. Then we embraced. Not only did I meet Jesus in Fort Worth, but He gave me a hug as well! This was an experience I will always treasure. It has little to do with giving to the homeless and everything to do with the little opportunities we have on a daily basis to serve others. Based on my experience, it is only on the rare occasion I forget myself and seek to help others that I find anything close to real joy, the kind of happiness that endures. All other types of pseudo-happiness eventually wither, leaving only a feeling of utter emptiness. This requires a change of focus, a paradigm shift. It’s extremely difficult. Only the best people in history have even come close to it, only One has ever done it perfectly. Service is not about the why, the where, or the how….it is about the Who.
Please share a faith building experience you've had in the comments section below. Thanks!
5 Ways to Incorporate Christian Service into Our Busy Lives!
We all have a shortage of time. There just isn't enough to go around. Most folks are overworked, overscheduled, and frankly overwhelmed. So how does a true disciple of Christ possibly find time to make Christian Service an integral part of their life? Great Question! Probably one of the finest, but most difficult questions one can ask. Fine because asking the question demonstrates a desire to be more like Christ; difficult because to genuinely seek the answer forces us to look inside of ourselves to see what really makes us tick. Most times we don’t like what we find, I know I don’t. Isn’t that wonderful! That is the miracle and essence of Christianity. To see ourselves as we truly are, to see Christ as He is, and hold His hand as we bridge the gap together. Bridging this gap basically means throwing part of our old self on the scrap heap and replacing it with something divine. The fact is that all of our souls are cluttered with piles of debris that stand between us and the Savior. Maybe some of that garbage keeps us from providing Christ like Service to others. The following are five simple concepts, or ideas that may help us focus on the “fruit” that comes from serving others:
5 Ways to Make Christian Service Part of Our Daily Lives:
1. See Christ in Those You Serve
Matthew Chapter 25:40 states, “And the king shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.’ Maybe we should take this counsel literally. Think of how powerful it would be to actually see the face of the Savior in those we serve; to shake His hand or give Him a hug.
2. Make it a Family Activity
Seek ways your family can serve others together. This can be difficult, especially with young families but it is possible. Here are a few ideas:
-young children: have a family meeting explaining how there are many children who do not have toys to play with. Pray together as a family and then ask the children if they would be willing to give some of their toys to other children less fortunate than themselves. Then allow the children to choose any toys they are willing to part with. Never impose or force anything. If a child doesn’t want to give, that’s fine……no biggie. But watch as their siblings encourage them to participate. Watch as they struggle to decide whether to part with a favorite toy. Watch as they smile after the decision is made; a smile that comes from inside out not the outside in.
-pre-teens: consider yard clean-ups or working at a food bank. Anywhere they can burn energy and be productive at the same time.
-teenagers: any situation where they can see that the work they are doing has an impact on the individual they serve. This can have a profound impact on their lives as it puts their life situation in perspective and strengthens their testimony.
3. Remember a Time When You Were Served by Others
When you were broken down on the side of the road…..When you were down and out and needed food, clothing, money, a place to stay……When you sought the counsel of a busy friend who stopped what they were doing to take time with you…..When you were frustrated with life and the world and the smile of a stranger gave you hope. At one time or another, we have all been the recipient of service. Let’s take a minute to reflect on these periods of our life and let this inspire us to do the same for others.
4. Be Honest With Yourself
What has kept us from serving more? What barriers stand in our way? Sometimes the obstacles are extrinsic, but many times they are our own internal thought patterns or prejudices. Ask yourself the following self-searching questions:
-Do I truly see the value of serving others?
-Do I have negative feelings about serving the needy?
-Do I feel that they can and should do for themselves?
-Do I rationalize why I can’t or don’t serve others as much as I think I should?
-Do I fear what other people think or fear being judged by others?
-Do I feel that it is the responsibility of someone else, like the government to meet this need in society?
5. Take Control of Your Life
Who is in control of your life? Who decides how you spend your time? I have news for you: if it ain't you, that’s a problem. If you feel that Christian service should be a major part of your life and it’s not, I would suggest you change that! This applies to anything that you value in life. If you should spend more time communicating with your spouse, having family prayer or scripture study, or anything else that resonates with your soul, you should re-structure your life and put these first things first. No one else can or will do this for you. I’m here to tell you that it is possible! Not because I have achieved it, but because I have seen it achieved by others.
In my opinion there is no better way to become more like Christ than to emulate Him. There is no better way to show our love for Him than to see Him in every person we come in contact with and to find ways to bless their lives. We must build our lives around this principle of service. We must make it a part of our family culture. Every one of us has so much God given power to influence the lives of others in a positive way if we will only take advantage of it. The great thing is that this does not necessarily mean we have to work in a homeless shelter every weekend. The ways we can serve others are as diverse as the people we come in contact with. We only need to have empathy toward others, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, and fear nothing!
