I Thought I Was a Positive Person… Until I Started Paying Attention

Do you ever feel like you keep hearing the same message over and over again? At some point, you have to stop and think… alright, Lord, I hear You.

Apparently, I’m not the fastest learner, because sometimes it takes a few nudges before it sinks in.

On my drive to Tennessee, I was listening to audiobooks, trying to fill my mind with something uplifting instead of just letting it wander wherever it wanted to go. I ended up choosing two completely different books… and somehow, they both said the exact same thing.

That got my attention.

The First Nudge

The first book I started was Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty.

Now, I’ve listened to Jay before, and he has one of those calm, soothing voices. So soothing, in fact, that about halfway through, I realized I might need to switch books before I nodded off behind the wheel. Not exactly the goal.

But before I switched, something he said stuck with me.

When he was training as a monk, they had to keep a daily journal. Every time they had a negative thought, they had to write it down.

The idea was simple. You can’t fix what you don’t notice. At the time, I thought, Well, that’s interesting… but I’m a pretty positive person. You know how we all think that about ourselves.

The Second Nudge

So I switched over to book by Jon Gordon, one I had listened to years ago and remembered loving. And wouldn’t you know it… here we go again.

This book was all about positive energy and getting rid of negative thoughts. Two books. Same message.

Now, you can say that wasn’t unusual since I already owned both of them. But out of the 20 or 30 books sitting in my library, those are the two I picked.

I don’t believe that’s random. So I started paying attention.

The Moment I Realized… Maybe I’m Not As Positive As I Thought

It didn’t take long. I caught myself grumbling about something. Then complaining. Then fussing a little more than I probably needed to.

And I had to laugh, because my “glass half full” mindset was looking a whole lot more like “quarter full.” Isn’t that how it goes? We think we’re doing pretty good… until we actually start paying attention.

One Simple Shift That Changes Everything

When I got to my parents’ house, I had already finished the book. But after noticing how much negative chatter was going on in my head, I decided to listen to it again on the way home.

That’s when one line really hit me. You can’t be stressed and thankful at the same time. Think about that for a minute. It sounds simple, but it’s powerful.

The book suggested something called a “Thank You Walk.” You just walk for a few minutes and intentionally say out loud what you’re thankful for. No big production. No perfect setting.

Just you… and gratitude.

What Scripture Says About Our Thoughts

It immediately made me think of this verse:

Proverbs 4:23 (NCV)
²³ Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.

King Solomon knew exactly what he was talking about. Our thoughts matter more than we realize.

They can lift us up or drag us down. They can bring peace or stir up anxiety. And most of the time, we don’t even notice how quickly they spiral.

We can’t control everything that happens around us. Life proves that over and over again. But we can control how we respond.

The Truth We Forget Way Too Easily

It’s so easy to let one bad moment turn into a bad day… and then somehow convince ourselves we have a bad life. I’ve done it. You’ve probably done it too.

But most of the time, it’s not our whole life that’s the problem. It’s just a moment.

There is always something good, even if you have to dig a little to find it. Sometimes it’s obvious, and sometimes you have to look a little harder. But it’s there.

So… Was It a Coincidence?

I don’t think so. I think the Lord knew exactly what I needed to hear, and He made sure I heard it twice.

Maybe you needed the reminder, too.

Let’s Try This Together

Instead of rushing off to the next thing on your to-do list, take a few minutes today and go for a short walk. And while you’re walking, start saying the things you’re thankful for. They don’t have to be big.

Your morning coffee. A quiet house. A text from your daughter. Even your dog sitting beside you like they own the place, looking at you like you’re their whole world. (Lucy does that to me all the time.)

Just start noticing. Because the more you look for the good, the more you’ll find it. And the less room there is for everything else.

To God Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!

Let’s End With A Prayer

Lord, help me to be more aware of my thoughts and the direction they are leading me. When I start to focus on what’s wrong, gently remind me of what’s right. Fill my heart with gratitude, even in the small things, and replace stress with peace. Thank You for loving me enough to remind me, again and again, to turn my thoughts back to You.

Amen.