How to Make Yourself Glad When Things Are Difficult

Make yourself glad with this technique for improving your outlook on life.

Your Mood and Your Words are Connected

If you can guide your thoughts and words toward desirable outcomes, you will change your mood.

The reason I know this works is because many years ago I would regularly suffer from bouts of depression.  It happened often.  It was common in the family; just something you go through.  It’s not clear how many years of my life have been wasted being stuck in a low mood.  The difference between then and now is because of several reasons, but one of them is certainly a habit of being grateful and finding things to be grateful for.

I discovered that the words of your mouth are key to mood, outlook and outcome.  It’s part of your mental diet.  The people you speak to eat your words, but you also eat the words you speak.  If you focus on things that are good, your mood will elevate.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 

– Proverbs 18:21

The same journals I was keeping during the low moments have a record of criticisms, complaints and general dissatisfactions.  This is the proof that poor mouth is a thing and it keeps company with poor moods.  This affliction of depression is a thing of my past.  I have not had this problem in two decades.  At the same time I have had struggles and difficult situations to deal with.

The character Pollyanna in the novel by the same name is famous for her attitude and HABIT of purposeful optimism.  This game is based on the idea that finding something to be glad about in every situation can help you feel happier and more positive.  It works!  It also irritates the demons of the wicked; that’s a bonus.

This is How to Play the Glad Game:

1. Set a goal to find something to be glad about in every situation you encounter throughout the day. It can be something small or something big, but the key is to actively look for it.
2. When you find something to be glad about, take a moment to appreciate it and focus on the positive feelings it brings you.  Bonus points: write it down.
3. If you’re having trouble finding something to be glad about in a particular situation, try to reframe your perspective. For example, instead of focusing on the fact that it’s raining and ruining your plans, be glad that the rain is providing much-needed water for the plants.  Or that the delay may be divinely ordered to protect you from harm.
4. Make it a daily habit to play the Glad Game. The more you practice, the more natural it will become and the happier you will feel.

Playing the glad game is a simple way to improve your outlook on life and change your mood. As you increase your ability to see the good in every situation, it will become clear that more good things stand out.  Not because the number of good things has increased, but because you have eyes to see them now.  They were always there.  Give it a try for yourself and watch how it changes you.

Using Positive Thinking is a Scriptural Concept

Consider this verse:

“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

Or if you haven’t taken the opportunity to believe in Jesus, know that He has changed my whole personality.  He is the central difference between then and now.  He has uplifted my circumstances and the quality of people that are in my life and inner circle.  Jesus will do it for you too, here and now in your earthly life.  Difficult things still happen, but they no longer have the same effect.  My perspective has changed drastically; and it has given me a new confession.  This can and will give YOU joy too!  If you are one of the people who knew me before, then you can be a witness to the change in me.

Conclusion:

If you want to improve your well-being, adjust your words.  Pay attention to your confession.  Be grateful on purpose.  Do it everyday and you’ll start to notice the difference in your outlook.  Which will improve your outcome.

Make yourself glad and remember, happiness is a choice, and you have the power to choose to be glad in all kinds of tough situations.

Supplies Used to Make These Drawings:

The artwork in this post were made with ink, watercolor, colored pencils and God given gifts of seeing things that others don’t.

• A gift of an intense love of colors, combinations of colors, and patterns.
• A gift of hypersensitivity to sounds, textures, and light levels.
• A gift of seeing clearly slight differences in color and tone and also feeling vibrations and tones in others.

What is one of YOUR gifts?  Let me know in the comments!