Happy Thanksgiving! (To those who are celebrating it today 😉🧡) And even if you are not, I wish you a wonderful day filled with smiles, happiness, and gratefulness. 💞
Being thankful is such a simple thing, but it can change your whole mindset and maybe even your life.
Lately I have been surrounded by fears and negative thinking, and it’s so easy to tear ourselves down or worry about what the future might hold.
But a few days ago I had kind of an epiphany moment: today is a good day. 💛 Funny how something simple and overused/heard can really stand out at times, but in the midst of one of my “grieving the future” spirals I realized none of that bad stuff has happened yet. 🤔😅😏
Yes, some days are genuinely hard, and yes, some of those bad things are still possibilities and/or inevitable, but instead of looking so far ahead and trying to prepare for every possible worst case scenario (which is impossible and usually just results in more despair…as evidenced by Marinette 😏) I can embrace the things that are good about today, that are good about my life, and live free from the weight and worries of tomorrow.
I struggled with this for awhile because if it’s a valid concern, shouldn’t I be thinking (aka worrying) about it? But I think there’s a difference between living in denial and living with acceptance. Denial purposely ignores the problem even at the risk of their own health and wellbeing, whereas living with acceptance acknowleges the problem, accepts the reality, yet lives on in spite of it, chooing to find joy and contentment even in the midst of whatever is happening.
Don’t get me wrong - I still worry, but the difference is being aware of that thought and caching it before it can do any more harm. (*cough yes this is another way for me to obsess over how awesome miraculous is, but honestly) I love the illustration of Ladybug catching akumas and de-evilizing them back into butterflies, and it’s a great reminder to be vigilant with the negative thoughts that come flying in your own head.
“You’re never gonna succeed.” Swipe that away. You don’t know that - anything is possible, and even if you fail at first that doesn’t mean you’ll never get better. You got this!
“Something bad could happen.” Or it might not. Only time will tell and thinking about it now won’t change anything, so why not imagine something good? ✨
“Nobody likes you.” That’s a lie and even if they don’t that doesn’t change your value and how awesome you truly are. 💖
Catch that thought. Take that negativity, ad turn it into something real, good, and beautiful. Give the enemy a fact check and don’t let fears and emotions run your life.
Easier said than done, and there are definitely times when the future looks too dark and too daunting for me to see any good in it, but I know that even if everything I fear comes true, even if the worst should happen, Jesus will be right there beside me, comforting me, strengthening me, and enabling me to heal and grow past whatever circumstances come to pass. Loss is a part of life but that doesn’t make life less worth living. As Master Fu says - Life itself is a gift. Every day you wake up with your heart beating and breath in your lungs is a special day filled with opportunity, purpose, and hope.
And being thankful plays a big part in experiencing all the good things life has to offer. There are so many small wonders and beautiful moments that often get overshadowed by our busy lives and stressful thoughts, but when we take a moment to remember the good parts of our day and look for the blessings in our lives, we may be surprised by how much there is to find and realize life is wonderful after all.
Who knows what the future may hold? (I meant that rhetorically but then I realized I actually do know who - God! He is working in ways we don’t even see, knows things we may never understand, and his ways are good and faithful and filled with love. I don’t understand why he allows some things to happen, and I don’t know if everything will work out on this side of heaven, but I do know he loves me (just like he loves you) and I trust him, which means I don’t have to take on the world alone. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.” 💕)
Don’t let dark thoughts stand in your way - be thankful and chase the gloom away. 💖💖
I know one thing for sure - I am so thankful for all of you, and seeing your cheerful, encouraging comments always makes me smile.
Wishing you all the best of blessings!
Always a friend,
Christina 🦋