Starting Your Day Right!

I've been reading this book called Starting Your Day Right by Joyce Meyer.  It gives you devotions for each day of the year, which I thought was quite intriguing.  I wanted to share a few of them with you as they have lifted my spirits in the past few days.

Control Your Temper

Have you ever regretted something you said as soon as the words were out of your mouth?  You can't take back the words you speak to others--and words can damage relationships.  If you can control your mouth, you can control your whole body.

Before you respond to people too quickly, stop and listen.  "Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to take offense and slow to get angry." 

Use words that speak HEALING to others...

Be Positive

Depart from evil and do good; seek, inquire for and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!  Do all things without grumbling, faultfinding, complaining, questioning and doubting (among yourselves.)

Be positive.  Get rid of gossiping and complaining.  Bring life and love to whatever situations you face :)

Initiate Solutions

Sometimes we complain about things that we CAN change if we would stop feeling sorry for ourselves long enough to do something about them.  For example, if we are lonely, we can make the effort to be a friend to someone else.  We can choose to be free or remain in bondage to self-pity.  We can choose to be pitiful or powerful!!

Control Your Moods

Moods can bring strange impulses that we dare not heed.  When we get moods we want to do weird things, or neglect our responsibilities.

"I don't feel like doing anything today.  I am in a bad mood.  Just leave me alone."

Disciplined people submit their emotions to wisdom.  They say, "These are my feelings, but I don't live by my feelings, I may have moods, but they don't dictate my actions.  I am going to do exactly what I would do if I felt better."  You will enjoy your day more when you discipline yourself to do what you believe, instead of what you feel.

All of these have helped me in the past.  I have read this book numerous times and I understand it's meaning more and more each time.  It also keeps me grounded and reminds me of the things that are all too soon forgotten in our day to day lives. :)

I went to Andrew's yesterday to celebrate his birthday with he and Jessica.  He skipped out early and went to bed (bless his little heart) so Jess and I were able to talk a little bit about a few things that we had been contemplating these past few weeks.  

We were talking about how a vast amount of individuals who move to Hollywood, tend to take on this facade; so to speak.  They trap their real identities inside of the exterior appearances and shut the world out. They shut people out.  I also know that this doesn't only happen in Hollywood, it's everywhere.  I find it so interesting that people really do this.  It makes me heartsick to think that they shut themselves out from the world and can still find happiness within themselves.  Some of them may and some may not, I can't say for sure, I am not one to judge, but the more I processed the thought the more interested I became in finding out why people do this, is it because of their insecurities?  Could it be because they feel it makes them more powerful, less breakable?  I have no idea.  

I feel that we were all put on this earth to support each other, to learn from each other and to love one another yet it is amazing to me that we still can't look each other in the eyes, smile and say, "hello" as you pass another human being on the street.  How many times have you stood in an elevator watching the numbers light up instead of saying, "Hello.  How are you?"  We still try to find something, anything to give our attention to when you happen to notice someone walking your way.  It is so sad, but makes me laugh sometimes.  Seriously you guys, I don't think you know how much just a smile can do for someone.  

Maybe try smiling at everyone you pass tomorrow...See how it makes you feel.  It can't hurt right??