Getting Rid of a Glass Half Empty Attitude

I raised a couple of teenagers and have helped take care of those grown-up teenagers’.teenagers. I know well that they go through all spectrums of emotions at any given time. One day they’re optimistic and in a good mood. The next day they can have sour attitudes that sour up a room like a big old dill pickle. We all know those mood swings because we were once teenagers. I remember me and I’ll admit, I regret those times when I was less than grateful. Oh, how precious was my mother as she navigated me, single-handedly, through those rough waters of boyfriend troubles and school and test troubles – all that seemed so insurmountable – but they all came and passed – literally. I married the boyfriend and successfully passed the tests and graduated. My half empty perspective then, has turned into a half full glass today.

It's almost Thanksgiving Day and I’m already forming my gratitude list in my head. In fact, yesterday morning I sent my usual morning text to my four – my two and their spouses. I said something like this to them: “Happy Thanksgiving week, my loves. I’m so looking forward to our special times together this week. Praying already that God makes this a year to remember in gratitude for His goodness and mercy that has kept us strong, healthy, lots of good food on our tables, being able to be God’s hand extended to so many around us, protection in the midst of storms and accidents, laughter in the midst of tough times, and security and peace in abundance. We are so so blessed. I love you so much!”

It’s so easy to a HALF EMPTY if we allow the negative to overtake our thoughts. You know – like:
I’m thankful for Jesus, but I can’t live up to his standards.
I'm thankful for my husband, but marriage is so much work.
I am thankful for my kids, but they never listen.
I am thankful for my home, but everything is falling apart.
I am thankful for my job, but it's a dead-end job.

You get the picture. I want the half full glass of gratitude that doesn’t add BUT to my gratitude. I want the FULL glass of gratitude list of things that inspire thanksgiving in my heart – not a list that focuses on present difficulties and is void of hope in the good things to come.

We can be thankful, even in hardship, because our future is based on God’s love, not on our perfection or our performance. Yes, we may experience temporary hardships, but they do not alter our eternal absolutes. Our hope is in Christ alone. “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

Here’s the way to turn a glass half empty attitude into a full one!
I’m thankful for Jesus, who covers me with His righteousness.
I am thankful for my husband and our blessed marriage.
I am thankful for my kids who are full of life and joy.
I am thankful for my comfortable home that is enough.
I am thankful for a job that I can grow in and be my best.

This glass half full list takes a little discipline. It requires a shift in thinking from temporary comfort to eternal security. It means releasing despair and embracing hope. Hope can inspire gratitude for what is and what will be.

I leave you with this prayer for a Thanksgiving full of hope:
“May the God of hope fill you (a glass FULL) with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13).

It's a Matter of Perspective

It's raining cats and dogs in Tulsa today! Really? Cats and dogs? Well, it really is raining in Tulsa! I say "Hip Hip Hooray -- our lawns need it!" But the people having their custom homes built in my neighborhood, aren't pleased at all! Rain is keeping progress from happening on their home's completion. It's a matter of perspective.
This little baby sees the world upside down! But it's not upside down -- it's a matter of perspective.

Some see the glass half full, while others see it half empty. Two people can look at the same thing or hear the same thing and each processes it differently. Perspective depends on the person -- their age -- their experiences -- their beliefs -- their upbringing -- and where they are in life, right now! Perspective is so important that it becomes FACT in their life -- whether or not it is fact. That’s why it’s so important to try to keep a balanced and optimistic perspective -- to make sure we’re not so tunnel visioned that we miss the forest for the trees. That we’re teachable enough to stop and consider that our perspective may need to be adjusted. To consider that our perspective may be negatively influenced by the wrong people or by our emotions (which are not always reliable) or by our circumstances, etc. It's, typically, quite difficult to get someone to change their perspective. Their perspective is their reality!

We raised our children on, not only the principles in God's Word, but also,on Zig Ziglar's (our dear friend of our family) "Born to Win" book and principles. In fact, at just a young age, Staci would correct anyone who said, "That scared me to death!" Staci would retort -- "Scared you to life!" And as much as we'd like to see others view life from our perspective -- the only one I can really change is ME! When we change the way WE look at things, the things WE look at change. So, let's change our perspective on those "stumbling blocks" that we are encountering -- and make them the "stepping stones" for the great things God has in store for us. Let's quit looking at the world upside down, and start looking at the world rightside UP! When we start looking UP -- seeing the sunshine behind the clouds -- seeing the glass half full -- our PERSPECTIVE -- will become our reality!