If it has dropped below 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Phoenix in the last 10 days, the locals think it has “cooled down”. Many days have been between 105 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit, (40 – 43 degrees Celsius) which is plenty hot. However, I have barely noticed the heat. Partly because I have been extremely busy, but it is largely due to the fact that most people spend 95% of their life in air-conditioned homes, offices, stores and cars. You go from an air-conditioned home to an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned workplace.
The heat hits for a moment when you get into the car, but the air conditioner kicks in within 2 minutes and the rest of the ride is comfortable. It helps that I love the heat, especially dry heat like Phoenix experiences, but the lifestyle here is set up to protect you from the environment.
Weather is not the only environment that we deal with. The Bible talks about the environment in the world as toxic, wicked and unfriendly. It can be quite graphic as it describes the righteous as foreigners in a world that is in the power of a wicked Devil called Satan who is like a roaring lion wanting to eat us. You definitely get the picture that being in the world is no walk in the park.
I would agree that the environment in the world is often unhealthy, negative and selfish. There’s definitely a lot of stress and turmoil in the current world
economy. People are concerned about their future and it’s certainly easy to get carried away down that path of “the sky is falling” pessimism and negativity.
How can you stay in a protected environment? How can you stay calm, cool and collected, while the rest of the world feels very hot and bothered? Is it even possible to be “in this world” and yet “no part of the world” as Jesus urged his followers so that you can rise above the everyday negativity of people? Can you avoid falling prey to that roaring lion out to get you?
Here are a few things that I do regularly to stay protected from the negativity that surrounds every single one of us.
1. Learn to laugh and have fun. The more joy you have in your life, the more
things roll off of you like water off a duck’s back. Life really isn’t all that serious. The more “fun” you have, the more you isolate yourself from worry,
doubt and fear.
2. Avoid negative situations, people and environments as much as possible. For example, I don’t read the paper, watch the news or hang out with miserable people. Choose positive people and environments. In other words, don’t go looking for the Devil.
3. Yes, there are world situations that are serious, but we are making progress in many areas. Focus on the good and the positive changes that are
happening in both your life and on the planet.
4. Stay busy doing positive things that make you feel good, energize you and
you enjoy. Spend most of your day doing tasks you hate will have you seeing
the doom and gloom faster than just about anything I know.
5. Stop worrying. Some of my mother’s best advice was that 99% of what you
worry about never happens. In 47 years of life, I have found that advice to be uncannily accurate.
6. When you are feeling down or upset, go talk to someone who has more
problems that you do. You will soon see how many blessings you really have in life.
7. Stay active physically. It actually changes your mood to move around so
change your position frequently, go for a walk, do some jumping jacks, but
get moving!
8. Set goals that you need to accomplish today, this week, this month, and this year. Focus on those goals and don’t get sidetracked by any negativity.
I have practiced all eight of these secrets over the 10 days. Our only staff member who knew how to run the office in Phoenix left with no notice two weeks ago. She refused to provide any assistance, and had not written the training manual we had asked her to write. After much persuasion, she finallly provided passwords for computers and about two pages of instructions on how to run an entire office. The day after I arrived to hire new help, the part-time assistant of our investor let me know she would be spending the following week in jail for a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) as Arizona is a zero-tolerance state for drinking and driving. Great – the
only person who had any idea of what to do, (as she had been in the office
observing our office manager), was now going to be in jail while our investor and I would be left running the office and training a new office manager.&n bsp;
It was quite a week. Our new employee asked me where the photocopier was and I honestly looked at her and told her I didn’t know if we even had one! I cheered when we transferred a call within the office without cutting the person off. The desk and chair I am using was that of the former CEO, a man 6′4″ tall. At 4′11″, I have had to curl my feet up under me most of the day as my feet are miles off the ground and I can’t lower the chair or the desk will be too high. We all laughed as the new President of the company looks very little in this massive chair. We are relaunching the new company on September 2nd and we have deadlines that are looming, a list of things to do that is impressively long and we are severely short-staffed. We’re experiencing the “heat” of just needing to get it all done.
Are there problems? Of course there are. Are there negative situations? Most definitely! Just like it’s 105 degrees out there today. It’s hot and it ain’t going away anytime soon. But I have been protected from the heat thanks to some smart moves like turning on the air-conditioning. I have been able to stay cool and comfortable. Smart moves on my part at the office have also kept me laughing, out of stress and feeling very positive about all the challenges this week.
Can you laugh through challenging times? Can you avoid that hungry lion that seems to trap you and rip you apart at least once or twice a day? For sure. Watch where you’re taking the heat in your life. Notice where you’re feeling uncomfortable and stressful. Observe your joy meter as you go through the day. Then start applying these eight secrets, even one at a time, and notice the difference in your day.
You can be a positive force for good in the world despite the surroundings,
challenges and negative situations you deal with. You may have to live in this negative world but you certainly can stand out as different from the masses by your positive attitude.
Blessings,
This information is copyrighted. Please feel free to pass along, use as part of your spiritual newsletters but please keep all information including contact information intact. Thank you for your respect and integrity in this matter.
Jan Janzen is a non-denominational minister, author and entrepreneur. Her book Devil with a Briefcase: 101 Success Secrets for the Spiritual Entrepreneur along with her CD series for the Spiritual Entrepreneur and other resources for the entrepreneur with ethics are available at
www.spiritualentrepreneurinfo.com. For more information on Jan’s ministry and her support of microfinance projects around the world, please visit www.janjanzenministries.com
Popularity: -0% [?]
Be The First To Comment
Related Post
Please Leave Your Comments Below