Conquering Negative Thoughts With Gratitude
- By candidasullivan
- February 19, 2017
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The devil is a master manipulator. He can take any situation and turn it into a tragedy. Regardless of our intelligence, he has a way of showing up expectedly and slipping his lies into our mind before we realize what is happening. It’s his job to challenge us.
Most of the time, instead of being on opposite sides of the war, we join forces with him. He works in our mind. He is the negative voice that we hear in our mind. In all honesty, no one has ever said more hurtful words to me than I have said to myself. Just this week, I have been beating myself up because my hand is swollen and painful. Of course it’s my fault. I must have done something wrong to cause it. Maybe if I was stronger then I would be able to workout without always getting injured.
As my thoughts continued to bring me down, I recognized them for the lies that they are. All of my limbs are affected from Amniotic Band Syndrome and yet I still workout every day. Instead of allowing the devil to use it as a weakness against me, I see it as a strength. Without the challenges I face every day, then I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I’m used to adversity. I battle it every day. And through all the battles, I have developed abilities that I might have never acquired otherwise. I can modify anything to fit my needs. When life gets tough, I don’t quit. But I keep looking for another way to do what needs to be done.
Today, I celebrated the fact that I completed three weeks of yoga, instead of beating myself up over my swollen hand. While I wasn’t able to do all of the moves, I did what I could and I enjoyed it. That’s what it is all about. Regardless of what we go through, we should learn to love ourselves through it. Beating ourselves up about it won’t change the situation. We can, however, change our mindset about the situation.
Gratitude is my favorite way to change my mindset. When I start listing, and actually feeling, all the things that I am grateful for it lifts my mood. I have learned that I can’t be feeling down and grateful at the same time. So every day I make it a point to find some time to be grateful.
I will not be sad for the few things that I can’t do, when God blesses me to be able to do so many things.
Love and blessings,
Candida
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