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“We have been taught to believe that our feelings and emotions are determined by the events in our lives.”

A thought by David Stoop in his book, You Are What You Think (Kindle Location 217). Kindle Edition.

If this is true then why are there so many depressed people in January after all the stuff that they got on Christmas? I mean for so many this is a very downer month.  They looked so forward to getting what they asked for but it didn’t have any lasting effect. 

Now it is so easy to believe that our feelings and emotions are determined by the events in our lives.  Some are so excited about being with family at Christmas and their feelings and emotions are so high and then in the middle of their time they start thinking about leaving and their negative emotions take over and they are in deep despair.  The reality is our self-talk, our inner thoughts do help or hurt us in our view of life.

Let’s say we have come to realize the truth of this and we start thinking about how great it is to be with family but that we are also excited about going back to our home.  Now if you are married and have you own kids you can start thanking God for the fact that they will be going home with you.  You are not leaving them.  But if you are single you may have to start thinking about something else that will give you good thoughts.  Maybe you can think about sleeping in your own bed or seeing your good friends or the excitement of living out your own dreams or whatever you choose to bring hope and excitement back into your life.  You are in control of your thoughts and your focus.   

I had this happen to me today.  Last night there was a very disappointing event that happened. Now I am a born pessimist and initially there are “woe is me” thoughts that come into my mind.  As I went to bed I prayed and I had a very good sleep.  But as I got up this morning some of those “feel sorry for myself” and “no hope” thoughts came into my mind so I went to my Psalm of today chapter 147 and verse 6  stood out to me (Msg), “God puts the fallen on their feet again…” so I put that into my mind and prayed a specific prayer about the situation and then faced my day with hope not despair. I chose to believe that God would work something good out of a bad situation.  I then had a defining moment during my walk in the Mall.  It all came about because of a choice I made on what self-thoughts I was going to let control this situation in me.

If you are having real trouble in this area then I recommend you click on the title of David Stoop’s book at the top and it will take you to Amazon.com where you can buy this book.  God has used this concept to change the way I view life.  God has something better for you than living in great despair.  He has given you the potential of living a life of faith and hope in the midst of a difficulties and disappointments.   So why don’t you try it out today.

So what do you think?
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