In my practice of psychotherapy I'm learning the power of positive psychology. I've had a notion that many times people forget to smile, especially when they are plagued with depression and/or anxiety. A few years ago I went through a very painful event that changed my life. The grief of loss was so profuse that I found myself forgetting to smile. In response, I decided to take daily pictures of myself smiling. I was leaning on the old adage of "fake it till you make it." I certainly did not feel like smiling, but I would make the biggest, cheesiest smile and take a selfie. It helped me remember that life is only dominated by sadness and grief if we allow it that power. That statement is a relatively sound Christian thought, too. God gives us joy in Him if we are born again. Like Peter stepping out of the boat, we can sometimes lose sight of the joy of Christ when the tempests of life seems overwhelming.
Don't forget to smile. Brandi and I were sitting on the front porch yesterday watching the evening fade. The peace was only broken by the sounds of the woods surrounding our home (and Winston, our mastiff barking at things). I decided to take a selfie of us and we looked a bit silly. Her ensuing laughter became contagious and we found ourselves laughing at the silly pictures I took of us. A smile, like laughter, truly is good medicine. It helps to clear the air of negative thoughts and negative affect. It helps to refocus on the simple joys of life like sipping fresh lemonade on the front porch with your best friend, listening to the hammer of a woodpecker in the woods, the gobble of a wild turkey, or the fluttering movement of the twins reminding us of their developing lives.
Philippians 4:4-8 (ESV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Don't forget to smile. Brandi and I were sitting on the front porch yesterday watching the evening fade. The peace was only broken by the sounds of the woods surrounding our home (and Winston, our mastiff barking at things). I decided to take a selfie of us and we looked a bit silly. Her ensuing laughter became contagious and we found ourselves laughing at the silly pictures I took of us. A smile, like laughter, truly is good medicine. It helps to clear the air of negative thoughts and negative affect. It helps to refocus on the simple joys of life like sipping fresh lemonade on the front porch with your best friend, listening to the hammer of a woodpecker in the woods, the gobble of a wild turkey, or the fluttering movement of the twins reminding us of their developing lives.
Philippians 4:4-8 (ESV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.