Recently I stopped to speak to an acquaintance in the foyer at church, and she started sharing her present situation. I listened politely and nodded as she spoke, but when she made this statement, I couldn’t help myself and stopped her mid-sentence.
“I am stuck living in a prison every day.”
She was a bit taken aback when I interrupted, but as I started explaining that she could see her surroundings as positive or negative, her choice, I began to see a glimmer of understanding in her eyes.
I encouraged her to find a different way to describe her situation because if she continued to use negative words, she would feel more and more negative about it. Maybe your mobility is limited, but your mind and outlook doesn’t have to be.
Paul and Silas were in a physical jail, but in their minds they were in a place of worship and praise.
Jonah was in the belly of the whale, but he turned it into a prayer closet.
The Apostle John was in exile on Patmos but his mind was in heaven.
In just a few moments, my friend decided to choose to enjoy time in her sanctuary rather than dread being stuck in a prison.
That’s the power of the mind.
Powerful story, Darnelle! It’s all in the perspective. Thank you for the encouragement to reframe our situations.
Sharing mindset gold like this has the power to change the direction of one’s life by seeing oneself in a new light. Our minds are so powerful, it’s the operator that needs experience, and we can get that through disciplined practice/repetition! Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
That is powerful, Darnelle! Well done. Sounds like you gave your friend excellent food for thought in a kind and respectful way!