Life Talk With God By Izabella GatesSample

Lighten up

“My friends tell me to lighten up and not be so serious. I know they’re probably right, but I don’t know what to do to take life less seriously.”

It’s important not to let life weigh you down. See the good bits and focus on them for a balanced experience. We so often let life turn us into serious people. We’re not talking here about merely taking your responsibilities seriously. No, we’re referring to those times when you suddenly become glum in your whole outlook and you feel as if you’re laboring under a heavy weight.

What’s wrong with being “heavy”? For a start, you may find yourself no longer appreciating life the way God meant you to. “Heaviness” makes you look at life differently and you’ll tend to notice all the bad news in the media, overlooking the good-news stories. No one wants to be around someone who is permanently glum, so you could find that your friends withdraw and your environment becomes increasingly depressing. The antidote to all this heavy stuff is to lighten up.

Ways to lighten up

Look for the funny side of life. See the humor in some of life’s everyday situations. 

Shift your mindset. There’s more than one way of looking at your circumstances. 

Laugh more. Look for activities and occasions that’ll make you laugh.

Act crazy sometimes. This means occasionally having some innocent fun which up till now you may have avoided due to shyness or feeling low.

Stop being a worrier. Worrying is like stepping into a blob of chewing gum. It goes with you everywhere and interferes with what you’re doing. Scrape it off and leave it behind.

Change your routine. Get up earlier, or try a new food or book.

Try new activities. It could be painting, pottery, guitar lessons, photography, a dance class, drama club, hiking, bird watching or a new sport. Whatever it is, you’ll be liberating your creative side, learning something new, meeting new people and having fun.

If you feel that these things don’t work for you, ask God to help you think up ones that will. But before you discount any of the suggestions, give each one at least one try. 

Prayer

Dear God, please show me how to develop a lighter outlook.

Please:

- Help me to identify new and creative activities to get involved in.

- Let me have a positive attitude and a strong sense of humor.

- Help me to be cheerful, outgoing and confident.

- Fill me with Your spirit of joy.

- Show me how to have a positive influence on others.

Thank You for my opportunities and my life. Amen.