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CHOOSE POSITIVITY
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
– Helen Keller
Have you heard of Alexander’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day? That was nothing compared to Silas and Paul’s misunderstood, mistreated, stripped, beaten, severely flogged, and imprisoned day! (Read about it in Acts 16.) Yet somehow their circumstances did not dictate their response. They salvaged the situation. They made the most of the moment. They didn’t react; they responded. They refused to focus on all that had been taken away but rather chose to see the unique opportunity they had been given.
In his book, How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge, Clay Scroggins draws great insight from Paul’s prison perspective:
“Don’t let the frustration you feel over what you don’t have keep you from doing what you can do. Changing your perspective on your situation can change everything. Seeing what you do have will allow you to overcome what you don’t.
Paul got this. Somehow, he didn’t get lost in the weeds and miss what was in front of him. Paul’s panoptic vision told him, 'I’m not chained to this prison guard. This prison guard is chained to me!' He stayed true to his calling even when the odds were stacked against him. He kept his eyes up even when his feet were in chains. I want what he had. If Paul had this view in prison, hopefully, it’s possible for us to have it where God has put us."
Regardless of where God has put you, you have a choice to make. Choosing positivity is deciding to find and focus on the good instead of the bad. Make no mistake about it; both good and bad will always be present. No matter how good life is, there are challenges that you could whine about. No matter how bad life is, there are blessings that you could rejoice about. There is always something to complain about and always something to be thankful for. The choice is yours.
REFLECT
- What challenges are you facing right now?
- How are you tempted to respond? Is there a better option?
- List a few of the ways God is showing up and coming through for you.
About this Plan
Long before TED Talks, best-seller lists, podcasts, and conferences, there was a man whose influence and impact changed the world. He came to be known as the Apostle Paul, and he can teach us quite a bit about leadership. "Follow Me" takes leaders back to ancient principles and propels them forward into lives of greater influence. It's 1st-century wisdom for 21st-century leaders!
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