Elevating the Good

Happy Wednesday! I know it's been a minute since I've posted anything on here other than monthly wrap ups. The inspiration and motivation to write has been coming in in trickles instead of waves. But I wrote this for my newsletter and wanted to share.  

I was reading in Psalm 103 this morning, using a commentary from Charles Spurgeon. Psalm 103:1-2 says: "Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

In his commentary on the second verse he was talking about how the memory has a way of elevating the negative and squashing the positive. Our minds have a way of focusing on the bad instead of on the good, and how to focus on the good and to remember the good God has done in our lives is worshipful to Him. I'm already aware that I can be a pretty negative or pessimistic person. I try not to be, I try to focus on the good, but it takes more effort than maybe it does for other people who have a more positive disposition. 

It was a good reminder though. The weekend before the retreat was really hard on me and the past week had a lot of ups and downs. I feel better about last week, and honestly, it allowed me to see the progress I've made. My depression didn't spiral as much as it could have. I was able to pick myself up and keep going much faster than I used to. I wasn't crippled the way I might have been last year or the beginning of this year. But breaking up still was a loss and it made me remember all the other things that haven't or didn't work out in my life. All the things I want, but don't have yet. Reading Spurgeon's thoughts on Psalm 103:2 put me in a better mindset and reminded me to be thankful for all the things that are in my life and all the progress I've made. I got to sit and reflect on the good and how much I've progressed this year and truly thank God for all of it because there's no way I would have been able to do any of this or have any of this without Him. 

My depression and anxiety don't feel crippling anymore. I was able to push myself and overcome so much this year. I can drive farther than I've ever driven before. I have a job I really like and that suits me really well. I graduate from college in December. He led us to an amazing church and to a community that I am so thankful for. There have been so many blessings He's given me this year. So many things to be thankful for. 

So, I guess this is just a reminder to not let your mind elevate the bad. The bad doesn't and shouldn't define your life. The good should. Even if it doesn't feel like it today, there is good. There are things to be thankful for. Even the smallest, littlest things. Stop what you're doing today and take a minute to make a mental list or a physical list of some things to be thankful for in your life today, or over the weekend or this past year. Thankfulness is proven to help mental health and I think we need to practice that more. 

I hope you all have a great October!