Learning to be positive

by Shane Hargrave

In May of 2004, Saturday Night Live introduced the character of Debbie Downer to the world.
Debbie’s last name is taken from the Slang for Downer – which refers to someone who persistently adds bad news or negative feelings to a gathering, thus bringing down the mood of everyone around them.
In every skit, we find Debbie in a happy, joyful environment, and within moments she is bringing up horrible facts, or pointing out the negative in life…after every comment, you here the orchestra play…wah, wah…
The skit became an instant classic. People loved it because, as they say, comedy imitates life. We all know people like Debbie. People who just bring others down. Sometimes we call them Debbie Downers, sometimes we call them Eeyore.
If they bring you down too much, you might not call them at all. Maybe that personality describes you today. Maybe you tend toward the negative in life. You’ve lost your joy, life never seems to work out for you, everywhere you look, you see unhappy tidings.
I have to admit, there are times in my life when I can get a little melancholy and see the glass as half empty, rather than half full. About two months ago, I was telling a friend of mine about something that was going on in my life and in the middle of my story, she went…”wah, wah”.
I said, what was that for? She said, because you’re being a “Debbie Downer!”
She was right.
If that describes you today, then I want to encourage you to turn over a new leaf, starting this morning. With God’s help, you have the power to change your outlook.
Here are a few keys in choosing to be positive.
1. Ask God to help you
In Chapter 4 of Philippians, Paul tells us to petition God with our requests. In Chapter 3, Paul reminds us that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
2. Start your day off with the right mindset
Every morning, my grandpa wakes up and recites Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the Lord has made. [I] will rejoice and be glad in it.”
It’s amazing what can happen in our lives when we are intentional about the way we chose to view life. Everybody faces good days and bad days. How we choose to live will make all the difference.
3. Focus on the blessing in your life.
Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
But sometimes we tend to be Debbie Downers. Instead of embracing this amazing life God has given to us, we think about how much better things SHOULD be. And we begin slipping into depression.
Two elderly women went to an orchestra concert. On the way home one asked the other, “How did you like it?” The other woman said, “The way the first violinist blew his nose after the first selection just ruined the entire evening for me.”
Some people miss the entire concert of life because they focus on the wrong thing.
Charles Dickens said, “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
4. Do Things that Lift you up
The worst thing you can do is think on things that bring you down. If you are constantly thinking about sad things, guess what? You’ll be sad.
I’m was talking to my cousin one time on the phone…he asked me how I was doing?
I said, “I am so sad. I just broke up with this girl that I really liked and I can’t get her off of my mind.”
He said, “Tell me about your day.”
I said, “Well, this morning, I went for a walk and that about how much she meant to me. Then I went to a romantic comedy and that about all that I had lost and how alone I am. On the way home, I listened to Our Song three times and just remembered the good times.”
My cousin said, “Wow! And what are you doing right now?”
“I’m just going over a few of the love notes she read to me. I just wish I could stop being so sad!”
And he said, “Are you an idiot!!!”
Friends, If you are filling your mind with negative things or listening to music or watching movies that are sad, depressing, or generate negative thoughts and feelings, you’ll feel negative or sad.
Garbage in, Garbage out.
5. Laugh
While on maternity leave, a woman from our office brought in her new bundle of joy. She also had her seven-year- old son with her. Everyone gathered around the baby, and the little boy asked, “Mommy, can I have some money to buy a pop?”
“What do you say?” she asked.
Respectfully, the boy replied, “You’re thin and beautiful.”
The woman reached in her purse and gave her son the money. There is a healing power in laughter.
Yiddish Proverb - What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.
When I’m asked to do a funeral, I try to bring the family together to talk about the life we will be celebrating. Most of them are grieving and hurting. There are tears to go around.
But no one wants to be remembered like that, so I ask them to tell me stories about their loved one. Good stories. As the stories pour out, tears of sadness turn into tears of laughter.
And people, for a few moments, are able to just breath again.
Proverbs 17:22, “A Cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones…”
Do things that will make you laugh. Go to a funny movie. Go hang out with the funniest person you know. Find the humor in life again and allow yourself the opportunity to simply breath.
Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
Conclusion: “This is the day the Lord has made. [I] will rejoice and be glad in it.

In May of 2004, Saturday Night Live introduced the character of Debbie Downer to the world.
Debbie’s last name is taken from the Slang for Downer – which refers to someone who persistently adds bad news or negative feelings to a gathering, thus bringing down the mood of everyone around them.
In every skit, we find Debbie in a happy, joyful environment, and within moments she is bringing up horrible facts, or pointing out the negative in life…after every comment, you here the orchestra play…wah, wah…
The skit became an instant classic. People loved it because, as they say, comedy imitates life. We all know people like Debbie. People who just bring others down. Sometimes we call them Debbie Downers, sometimes we call them Eeyore.
If they bring you down too much, you might not call them at all. Maybe that personality describes you today. Maybe you tend toward the negative in life. You’ve lost your joy, life never seems to work out for you, everywhere you look, you see unhappy tidings.
I have to admit, there are times in my life when I can get a little melancholy and see the glass as half empty, rather than half full. About two months ago, I was telling a friend of mine about something that was going on in my life and in the middle of my story, she went…”wah, wah”.
I said, what was that for? She said, because you’re being a “Debbie Downer!”
She was right.
If that describes you today, then I want to encourage you to turn over a new leaf, starting this morning. With God’s help, you have the power to change your outlook.
Here are a few keys in choosing to be positive.
1. Ask God to help you
In Chapter 4 of Philippians, Paul tells us to petition God with our requests. In Chapter 3, Paul reminds us that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
2. Start your day off with the right mindset
Every morning, my grandpa wakes up and recites Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the Lord has made. [I] will rejoice and be glad in it.”
It’s amazing what can happen in our lives when we are intentional about the way we chose to view life. Everybody faces good days and bad days. How we choose to live will make all the difference.
3. Focus on the blessing in your life.
Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
But sometimes we tend to be Debbie Downers. Instead of embracing this amazing life God has given to us, we think about how much better things SHOULD be. And we begin slipping into depression.
Two elderly women went to an orchestra concert. On the way home one asked the other, “How did you like it?” The other woman said, “The way the first violinist blew his nose after the first selection just ruined the entire evening for me.”
Some people miss the entire concert of life because they focus on the wrong thing.
Charles Dickens said, “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
4. Do Things that Lift you up
The worst thing you can do is think on things that bring you down. If you are constantly thinking about sad things, guess what? You’ll be sad.
I’m was talking to my cousin one time on the phone…he asked me how I was doing?
I said, “I am so sad. I just broke up with this girl that I really liked and I can’t get her off of my mind.”
He said, “Tell me about your day.”
I said, “Well, this morning, I went for a walk and that about how much she meant to me. Then I went to a romantic comedy and that about all that I had lost and how alone I am. On the way home, I listened to Our Song three times and just remembered the good times.”
My cousin said, “Wow! And what are you doing right now?”
“I’m just going over a few of the love notes she read to me. I just wish I could stop being so sad!”
And he said, “Are you an idiot!!!”
Friends, If you are filling your mind with negative things or listening to music or watching movies that are sad, depressing, or generate negative thoughts and feelings, you’ll feel negative or sad.
Garbage in, Garbage out.
5. Laugh
While on maternity leave, a woman from our office brought in her new bundle of joy. She also had her seven-year- old son with her. Everyone gathered around the baby, and the little boy asked, “Mommy, can I have some money to buy a pop?”
“What do you say?” she asked.
Respectfully, the boy replied, “You’re thin and beautiful.”
The woman reached in her purse and gave her son the money. There is a healing power in laughter.
Yiddish Proverb - What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.
When I’m asked to do a funeral, I try to bring the family together to talk about the life we will be celebrating. Most of them are grieving and hurting. There are tears to go around.
But no one wants to be remembered like that, so I ask them to tell me stories about their loved one. Good stories. As the stories pour out, tears of sadness turn into tears of laughter.
And people, for a few moments, are able to just breath again.
Proverbs 17:22, “A Cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones…”
Do things that will make you laugh. Go to a funny movie. Go hang out with the funniest person you know. Find the humor in life again and allow yourself the opportunity to simply breath.
Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
Conclusion: “This is the day the Lord has made. [I] will rejoice and be glad in it.

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February 09, 2010