It's completely normal to feel like you're just surviving your life at times, especially if you're facing challenges or difficulties. However, it's important to remember that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, not just survived. Here are a few tips that may help you start living your life more fully:
- Set goals and work towards them: Having clear goals and working towards them can give you a sense of purpose and direction in life. This can help you feel more fulfilled and motivated to live your life to the fullest.
- Practice gratitude: Focusing on the things that you are grateful for can help to shift your mindset and bring more positivity into your life. This can help you appreciate and enjoy the present moment more fully.
- Spend time daily in the Word...the Bible...God's love letter written to us for our direction, comfort, correction, courage and delight.
- Seek support: If you're feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope, it can be helpful to seek support from your Heavenly Father through prayer, friends, family, or a mental health professional. Talking to someone about how you're feeling can help you process your emotions and find ways to cope with challenges.
- Take breaks and relax: It's important to take breaks and relax to recharge and refocus. This can help you feel more energized and ready to tackle the challenges of life.
- Engage in activities that bring you joy: Find activities that bring you joy and make time to do them regularly. This could be hobbies, sports, spending time with loved ones, spending time in nature, crafting or repurposing an item, or anything else that brings you happiness.
Remember that it's okay to take things one day at a time and take care of yourself. With time and effort, you can start living your life more fully and finding joy and fulfillment in your daily experiences.
Phillipians 4:8
Philippians 4:8 is a familiar verse from the Bible that my dad often quoted to me at various times when I was growing up. Well, he didn't exactly quote the whole thing but he would say "Whatsoever...." (King James) and I knew what that meant. Looking back I can see this was a little code word we shared. This verse encourages us to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This verse is often called the "thinking verse" because it encourages us to think about things that are positive and uplifting, rather than dwelling on negative thoughts and emotions.
The verse begins by urging us to focus on what is true. This means focusing on things that are real and authentic, rather than on falsehoods or deceit. We are also encouraged to focus on what is honorable, which means things that are morally upright and virtuous.
Next, we are encouraged to focus on what is just, which means things that are fair and equitable. We are also urged to focus on what is pure, which means things that are morally clean and unblemished.
Additionally, we are encouraged to focus on what is lovely, which means things that are beautiful and pleasing to the senses. We are also urged to focus on what is commendable, which means things that are worthy of praise and admiration.
Finally, we are encouraged to focus on what is excellent and praiseworthy. This means focusing on things that are of high quality and that are worthy of our attention and admiration.
I must admit that dad’s admonishment of this verse in my life has caused me to pause more than once before taking in a particular TV show or movie. There are many shows I would never consider to watch because they come with the rating of R or MA. I immediately know they will not fit into these parameters.
Science is now catching up to what God's word has told us....Your mind literally expands on 'whatever' you focus on. I'm very thankful to have been taught from an early age to focus on the above list. I believe it has made life so much better. What are you focusing on? You have a choice.
Philippians 4:8 is a verse that encourages us to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. By doing so, we can cultivate a positive and uplifting mindset that encourages good.
I hope you have the best day ever!
