Thriving Is A Choice
Thriving Is A Choice
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Thriving is a choice. For me, thriving is acknowledging your blessings and being a blessing to others.
By acknowledging your blessings you have the opportunity to choose to be grateful for those blessings. Without humble gratitude for our blessings, we tend to make who we are and what we have all about us. At this point, we really are unable to consider others.
There are some things that distract or destroy our ability to thrive and thus relegate us to a life of plain and miserable survival. These things are choices we make ourselves; not choices that are made for us. Often we give our power of choice away to others or to our circumstances. Troubles always come but it is our choice if we chose to become bitter or better.
There are times when stress, people or circumstances seem to hit every nerve we have. We’re short tempered. Then, there is road rage or impatience, say in the checkout line at the grocery store, people not moving fast enough, too much to do… to little time.
When we get to the last nerve we start snapping at those around us. We say things we often regret those we love and often to those we don’t know.
I had some kids over the other day and they were doing great but then they just started picking and getting crabby; It was time for what I call “give me five”: five things you’re grateful for having. They could rattle these first five off in Nanoseconds: air, family (one-by-one) so I said I need another “five” that took a few long seconds and another list of generic items. But, when we were at the third set we finally got serious about what they were grateful for. It took time to really consider. We made it to the 20th item “I’m grateful for” and they were laughing. Their attitude had completely changed.
Most likely, you’re thinking: “I don’t have time when my last nerve has been hit, to start thinking about things for which I’m grateful.” I have found that once you’re in the habit, it just comes naturally.
Try it. Right now. Write out 5 or 10 items you can be grateful for; a “preparatory list.”
Sometimes we need to take a timeout, even just for a few minutes. Take a deep breath and say, “What I am grateful for?” Even if it’s only a few things you mention, there is value and benefit to stopping and intentionally choosing your responses to people and circumstances thereby regaining your power of choice. When we’re grateful it changes our mindset and our entire look on life.
We hear people often complain about their job, other people at work, people in our neighborhood, school, people that are different than us, some that are just not nice people to be around. When you have been intentional about whose you are and grateful for what HE has done you have the freedom to choose your actions and your response to everyone with whom you interact.
For Jesus followers, God calls us to a different standard in our life. Loving those who are easy to love: everyone does that, but those who are not so easy to love? That is the love He wants us to show. We were unlovely before He loved us. He laid down His life for us. Often in life, we may be the unlovely person that others don’t want to be around. Having an attitude of gratitude can and often does change us.
When we choose our mindset to that of gratitude, we change how we view our circumstances and ourselves. In choosing a grateful mindset we put ourselves in a position to be a blessing. It’s getting outside of ourselves and apart from the “it’s all about me” syndrome, when we really begin to thrive. Life at that point becomes rich, textured and fulfilling. Our joy, satisfaction, and ability to thrive no longer depend on circumstances or people we interact with but on the identity we have in Christ.
The apostle Paul says it this way in Philippians:
“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.”
Philippians 4:10-14 (ESV)
Sometimes, people need to have someone sound a fog horn in their life to say, “Keep going, you can do it, God created you with all you need to be and all you can dream of being.”
I have found it is at that point God steps in and gives me all I need to go on, to succeed, to get up, to give out, to love more. For me, I have the freedom to choose to look up and become better, stronger or freer, or choose to be like a ship wallowing in stormy seas, constantly striving and focused on the storm.
Are you that voice?
There is more to life than to strive, there is more to life than just survive. I am all about living a life that thrives. That is a choice, not a right, not a given, but a choice.
We all have the Freedom to Choose!
Today will you embrace your freedom to choose to thrive?
