Happy, Just Because

Hello friends!

Today I want to talk about something that has helped me in my life tremendously. It’s so simple, but it quite literally makes all the difference in the world: having a positive attitude. My mom is probably beaming right now. Growing up, she always said to me, “positive attitudes bring positive results.” I always rolled my eyes at this comment, but now at 20 years old, I’m starting to see the value in that statement.

My Aunt Laura also instilled this message in me through a present she got me for Christmas one year. It’s a plaque that is now hanging on my wall. It says, “one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” The concept of having a positive attitude has been spoken over me so many times that I decided to try to actually implement it into my life; however, I knew I would need a daily reminder of this truth, so I changed my macbook homescreen to the following picture:

Now, everytime I log into my Macbook, I am reminded of this concept. There is a good chance people behind me in class have also been encouraged by these words as well when I pull out my laptop to take notes. Thinking back to my freshman year of college, and even the summer before my freshman year, I would have done well to adopt a positive attitude. The summer before college I remember feeling so stressed, anxious, and worried. I knew the year was going to be tough, and I didn’t think I had what it took to be successful in college. Imposter syndrome was taking the driver's seat in my life, and comparison was taking the joy out of my everyday life.

If you knew me during my freshman year of college, you’d know that Chemistry was the toughest class I had probably ever encountered. However, rather than adopting a positive attitude about it, I let my mind run wild with doubts and fears about failure. With God’s grace, some hard work, and some tutoring, Bailee and I were able to finish the class well, but the experience would not have been nearly as bad had I adopted a positive mindset.

This summer I’ve learned the value of being happy “just because” as well as finding ways to create opportunities for happiness in life. One of the prime examples I have of this happened just last week. Bailee, our friend from high school, and I all went to the zoo on a random Tuesday. Why? Just because! We wanted to spend time with a friend we hadn’t seen in awhile but also wanted to mix up typical hangout activities. It was actually Bailee’s idea to go to the zoo, and at first I looked at her like she was crazy because - hello, it’s August and super hot! However, the day we went to the zoo actually turned out to be the coolest day of August so far! What a God wink ;)

The point is, we didn’t have to go to the zoo that day. We didn’t have to reach out to our friend and schedule a time to catch up. But we did- just because- and it was so fun to feel like a kid again as we looked in awe at all the animals (and tried to feed the birds LOL).

This summer has been full of slow and busy days. I used to despise the slow days; however, I have since learned that the slow days are simply opportunities to be happy “just because”. How you spend your slower days directly impacts how you show up on your busier days.

I am learning that happiness is truly a skill that you have practice. On a practical level, I have learned that getting enough sleep makes it a lot easier to practice happiness (imagine that LOL). On a deeper level, however, I believe that happiness is fleeting, which means you need a firm foundation for your positive attitude: the joy of the Lord. The joy of the Lord is rooted in things eternal- salvation, God’s sovereignty, God’s grace, God’s love. When you take time to meditate on these things, it makes finding happiness a little bit easier, as you realize that the things of this earth are here one day and gone the next (James 4:14). You realize that each happy moment is a gift to be enjoyed and a reminder of the eternal joy and happiness we will feel in heaven one day.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I listened to a podcast by Jeanine Amapola about the brain’s neuroplasticity, and I am truly amazed. God made us so brilliantly, and I am honored to be getting an insight into how to live a more holy life devoted to the Lord. Not surprisingly, a lot of what clinical neuroscientist Caroline Leaf said directly aligns with scripture. For instance, she stresses the importance of rest. She also has an entire framework for how to rewire your brain to overcome toxic thinking patterns. She encourages things like laughter, brain breaks, naps, daydreaming, thinking creatively, and distinctively separating your work and play time. In the past, I’ve felt guilty for allowing myself to do these things. Although it sometimes necessary to put your head down and work, it’s also more than okay (and healthy) to let yourself be happy! No wonder the enemy attacks our mind so much. A healthy mind focused on the Lord is essential to living a holy and happy life.

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I am thankful that the Lord cares most about our holiness- not our outward appearance, grades, prestige, wealth etc. Here’s to another academic year full of refinement, learning, growing in my faith, and applying it to the craziness of college. Here are a couple of verses I want to rest in this semester + some commentary from my Bible.

Jeremiah 17:5-8:

“This is what the Lord says,

‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

And whose heart turns away from the Lord.

That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;

They will not see prosperity when it comes.

They will swell in the parched places of the desert,

In a salt land where no one lives.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by water,

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Commentary:

"In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on. But those who trust in the Lord will have abundant strength, not only for their own needs, but also for the needs of others. Are you living in an unfruitful drought, or do you, like a well-watered tree, have strength for times of crisis? Accept God's blessing on you and ask him to help you bear fruit." (1)

I hope you all have a wonderful school year and/or fall season!!

References

1. Zondervan. In: NIV, Life Application Study Bible. 3rd ed. Zondervan; 2019:1257.