5 Steps To Become More Positive In Life
The Thursday Night Devotionals have fallen behind lately...purely my fault, but lets get that back on track!
IN A WORLD FULL OF NEGATIVITY, how can you be positive in life? I hear all the time “how did you do that? I could never do something like that”. I want to tell the person that the reason they can’t, is because they have told themselves that they can’t. They’ve defeated themselves before they ever started.
Do you know there is one little-known place where you can go and find out how to have a more positive outlook on life? The God of this vast universe wants us live a happy, meaningful, and blessed life. Surely, He gave us a handbook on how to be more positive. All we have to do is turn to His living Word, the Bible.
So in this post, let me share with you five excellent, easy-to-follow steps to become more positive not according to any so-called “experts,” but according to the Bible, the source of all wisdom and knowledge!
Step 1. Choose to be positive!
Sounds simple, right? But actually it is tougher than you think. If not, then why do we see so many negative people today?
The default setting of our human nature is to always see the negative in everything. It is human to be negative whether things are going according to plan or not.
Most people fall into the trap of thinking that negativity is not a choice and it is something that we should just accept in our lives. NOTHING can be further than the truth! We always have the choice and life is way, way, way BETTER if we stay positive in our outlook.
The Bible tells us that we have two choices:
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Did you notice that? God is actually giving us a choice; life or death, blessing or cursing, and we can add positivity or negativity. Unlike the test we have in schools, GOD ACTUALLY GIVES US THE ANSWER. And He said CHOOSE LIFE! Choose positivity! Why? So that we can truly live!
Step 2. Surround yourself with positive things
You can notice by now that being positive requires energy. It requires effort. You have to sacrifice more of your time and energy when you are just starting your journey towards positivity.
To make it easier for you to be positive, you need to surround yourself with it. With this being said, it is important that you eliminate or at least avoid negative people in your life. They are the people whose negativity can infect you as fast as the cold virus. Instead of building you up, they will just pull you DOWN with their thoughts, words, and actions.
I Corinthians 15:33 tells us, “Do not be fooled. Bad companions ruin good character (GNB).” Obviously, bad company can also ruin our positive outlook in life. That’s why the wisest king of Israel tells us to “Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid (or negative) people, you will be ruined” (Proverbs 13:20).
Of course, negativity can also come in different forms. It can be vices, wrong entertainment, and even within our own environment. Thus, when choosing the things we let into our mind, we need to REMEMBER Philippians 4:8:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS.”
Step 3. Look for the positive in every situation
Here’s a tough one. Sometimes, things can get so ugly that we don’t even see even the slightest positive in them. Now here’s a new flash: there’s ALWAYS positive in every situation. Sometimes, they are obvious. Sometimes, you have to look long and hard just to find them.
The Apostle Paul makes it very clear in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that ALL (all means no exemption) THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
From this verse, we have the assurance that whatever it is that’s happening in your life, it has its purpose. God allows something to happen because He is TEACHING you something. He wants you to have a positive outlook on life every time you fall into various temptation (James 1:2).
Now, if you think you are in the worst situation in your life, look for the positive things. I’m sure, as the Scripture tells us, there will always be something to be thankful and positive for.
Step 4. Spread Positivity
As you start to be positive, others can help but notice. They will start to see the marked change in your life. Now, here’s your chance to share your positivity with others.
Staying positive is harder if you only do this on your own. You need to give it to others as well and ALL THE POSITIVE ENERGY YOU GAVE WILL EVENTUALLY FIND ITS WAY BACK TO YOU twofold, threefold, and even hundredfold!
The Bible reminds us that “It is MORE blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).That’s just how the spiritual laws work! You don’t become happy by being selfish. In the same way, you don’t stay positive if you only keep that positivity within you.
You need to SHARE it. Be a source of positivity in your family, school, workplace, and community. You will eventually see how beautiful this life can be!
Step 5. Remember God’s promises
There’s no doubt that life is not always sunny. Rain will always come, and sometimes it happens during our parade. If that happens and when all else failed, remember God’s promises!
We can always get the comfort from His word. After all, our true Source of positivity is God, and we can have more of that as we study the Bible.
Luke 12:32 tells us, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good PLEASURE to give you the kingdom.”
Did you just grasp the profound meaning of that verse? The Bible is telling us that it is God’s pleasure to give us His kingdom, to make us part of His ETERNAL Family!
It is His pleasure.
Giving the kingdom to us makes God pleased, EXCITED, DELIGHTED, THRILLED, AND EVEN JUBILANT! That’s why God will do whatever within His power to help us be part of His Kingdom. His desire for us to be in His Kingdom is so strong that He made the ultimate act of love: He gave His Son as a ransom for our sins!
Now if you only put that in your mind of minds and heart of hearts, then nothing in this world can really make you negative. After all, at the end of the day, we know that God is there to help us in every moment of our lives! What a wonderful and amazing promise!
With this verse and others that show the promises of God, there are more reasons to stay positive. We can look into every difficulty in life and say, “This too shall pass.” At the end of it all, if we endure, we will see God and live forever in His Kingdom!
Final Words
These are the five practical, easy steps to become more positive in life. Of course, I’m not saying that we ignore the negative in life, put our heads in the sand, and live in fantasyland. The only time we can let negative things get in our lives is to learn from them. We can be concerned, but not worry.
So I hope with these steps, you can develop a more positive outlook on life. So carry on and stay positive and spread positivity in this world! Here is a handy little guide to help you along the way.
