Here are five practical tips I use for enjoying things that I do not typically enjoy.
These are not foolproof, something things are just difficult and you have to put your head down, blinders on a focus for a period of time. But test these techniques out and see if they make a difference for you.
1 – Try to understand the benefits of the activity: Sometimes, we don’t enjoy things because we don’t understand the benefits they provide. If you can identify the benefits of the activity, it may help you to appreciate it more.
2 – Look for the positives: Instead of focusing on the things you don’t like about the activity, try to find things that you do enjoy. For example, if you don’t like going to the gym, focus on the endorphins you feel after a good workout or the sense of accomplishment you get from pushing yourself
3 – Make it social: Doing things with other people can make them more enjoyable. If you don’t like going to the gym, try finding a workout buddy or joining a group fitness class.
4 – Change your perspective: Sometimes, our enjoyment of an activity depends on our mindset. If you go into an activity with a positive attitude, you are more likely to enjoy it. Try to approach the activity with an open mind and a willingness to try new things.
5 – Find the humor: Humor can be a great way to make things more enjoyable. If you are doing something that you don’t enjoy, try to find the humor in the situation. This can help to lighten the mood and make the activity more enjoyable.
These are the things I do to make things more enjoyable in my day to day life. Even if you do not enjoy an activity, you can at least sand off the rough edges with these techniques.
Reorienting the mind to the positive is an important practice that can have numerous benefits in your daily life. By shifting your focus to what is positive, you can become more productive, efficient, and powerful, and you can also experience improved physical and mental health.
One of the key benefits of reorienting your mind to the positive is that it can make you more productive and efficient. Research has shown that a positive mental attitude is associated with increased productivity and performance, as well as better decision-making and problem-solving skills. For example, a study published in the journal “Psychological Science” found that individuals who were in a positive mood were better at solving problems and making decisions than those who were in a negative mood.
Reorienting the mind to the positive may be one of the most powerful tools you can place in your toolbelt.
One example of a study that has examined this relationship is “The effect of positive and negative affect on problem-solving” by Isen, Daubman, and Nowicki (1987). In this study, participants who were induced to feel positive emotions demonstrated improved performance on a problem-solving task compared to those who were induced to feel negative emotions.
Another example is “The role of positive emotions in positive psychology” by Fredrickson and Joiner (2002). In this review, the authors discuss several studies that have demonstrated the positive effects of positive emotions on various aspects of functioning, including increased productivity, better decision-making, and enhanced problem-solving skills.
Another benefit of reorienting your mind to the positive is that it can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.
Research has shown that a positive mental attitude is associated with a number of health benefits, including improved immune function, lower blood pressure, and reduced stress. For example, a study published in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology” found that individuals who had a more positive outlook on life had a lower risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) than those who had a more negative outlook.
In addition to the personal benefits of reorienting your mind to the positive, there is also evidence that a positive mental attitude can be beneficial for business productivity.
A study published in the “Harvard Business Review” found that teams with a positive culture were more likely to be successful and outperform teams with a negative culture. This suggests that reorienting your mind to the positive can have a positive impact on your professional life as well.
There are several Bible verses that support the idea of reorienting your mind to the positive. Some examples include:
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV) – “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” This verse encourages us to focus on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good, and to meditate on these things. This can help us to cultivate a more positive outlook and to find joy and peace in God.
Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) – “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” This verse reminds us to set our focus on things that are eternal and spiritual, rather than on things that are temporary and earthly. This can help us to find hope and purpose in God and to avoid becoming caught up in negative or distracting thoughts.
Also consider these passages.
Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) – “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” This verse emphasizes the importance of guarding our hearts and minds, and of filling them with positive and uplifting thoughts. By taking care of our hearts and minds, we can cultivate a more positive outlook and experience greater joy and fulfillment in life.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV) – “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” This verse encourages us to allow God to transform our minds and to align our thoughts and actions with His will. By doing so, we can experience greater peace, purpose, and fulfillment in life.
1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NKJV) – “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” This verse encourages us to put on the armor of faith, love
In addition to the biblical support for reorienting your mind to the positive, there is also a wealth of scientific evidence [beyond what we have already mentioned] supporting the benefits of a positive mental attitude.
Some examples of this scientific evidence include:
Improved immune function: Research has shown that individuals with a more positive outlook have a stronger immune function, which can help to protect against illness and disease. For example, a study published in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology” found that individuals who had a more positive outlook on life had a stronger immune response to a flu vaccine than those who had a more negative outlook.
Lower blood pressure: A positive mental attitude has been linked to lower blood pressure, which can help to reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems. For example, a study published in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology” found that individuals who had a more positive outlook on life had a lower risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) than those who had a more negative outlook.
Reduced stress: A positive mental attitude has been linked to lower levels of stress and anxiety, which can help to improve overall well-being and mental health. A study published in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology” found that individuals who had a more positive outlook on life reported lower levels of stress and anxiety than those who had a more negative outlook.
Additionally, positive outlooks can help with lifespan and measurable health biomarkers.
Improved cardiovascular health: A positive mental attitude has been linked to improved cardiovascular health, including lower heart rate and blood pressure. For example, a study published in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology” found that individuals who had a more positive outlook on life had lower heart rates and blood pressure than those who had a more negative outlook.
Increased lifespan: Research has shown that individuals with a more positive outlook tend to live longer than those with a more negative outlook. For example, a study published in the “Journal of Personality and Social Psychology” found that individuals who had a more positive outlook on life had a lower risk of dying from any cause than those who had a more negative outlook.
Improved work performance: A positive mental attitude has been linked to improved work performance and job satisfaction. For example, a study published in the “Harvard Business Review” found that teams with a positive culture were more likely to be successful and to outperform teams with a negative culture.
Now that we have explored the importance of reorienting your mind to the positive and some of the benefits it can bring, let’s look at some practical ways to train your mind to be more positive:
I – Train your gratitude: One way to train your mind to be more positive is to practice gratitude. This might involve taking time each day to reflect on the blessings and advantages that God has given you and to express thankfulness for these things. Focusing on the positive aspects of your life and thanking God for them can help to shift your perspective and to cultivate a more positive outlook. We know this to be one of the ingredients in the recipe for peace.
II – Surround yourself with positive influences and avoid negative influences: Another way to train your mind to be more positive is to surround yourself with positive influences. This might involve seeking out friends and mentors who are positive and uplifting and avoiding people and situations that are negative or draining. Do not underestimate the power of a negative influence to damage you. Avoid them like the plague until you are powerful enough to manage them.
III – Set positive goals: Setting positive goals can help to keep your focus on the things that are most important to you and to cultivate a more positive outlook. Aim to be more positive. Define what that means for you on a practical level and then go to work on making it a reality.
IV – Train Your ability to focus on the present moment: Practicing mindfulness involves paying attention to your thoughts and emotions in the present moment, without evaluating those sensations. This can help you to become more aware of negative thoughts and to replace them with positive ones.
V – Train your body: Engaging in regular physical activity has been linked to improved mental health and a more positive outlook. Consider incorporating activities such as walking, running, swimming, or cycling into your daily routine to help improve your mood and cultivate a more positive outlook.
Reorienting your mind to the positive is an important practice that can have numerous benefits in your daily life.
By shifting your focus to what is positive, you can become more productive, efficient, and powerful, and you can also experience improved physical and mental health.
I want to share with you some simple tools I am using to become more sociable. One of these tools is active listening.
Active listening is the practice of fully paying attention and engaging with another person when they are speaking. It involves not just hearing the words being said, but also understanding and empathizing with the speaker’s perspective. That involves lifting your perspective from your own mind and trying to look at issues from the perspective of others.
If this is done in a discussion, it does not need to be done for the purpose of being a soft, mushy, spineless individual who stands for nothing. You are not viewing things from multiple perspectives for no reason. You are trying to avoid being one-sided in your thinking. And you are training to be multi-dimensional in your thinking. Active listening is a way to expand your viewpoint to allow you to be more strategic in social situations as well as in your life.
Active listening is an essential skill in any relationship, whether it’s with a friend, family member, colleague, or romantic partner. It helps to build trust, develop a better understanding of issues, and manage conflicts. Here’s how you can improve your active listening skills and put them into practice in your daily life.
What is active listening in practice?
Active listening goes beyond just hearing what someone is saying. It involves actively engaging with the speaker, using verbal and nonverbal cues to show that you are paying attention and interested in what they have to say. This includes things like:
1. Maintaining eye contact
2. Nodding your head
3. Asking clarifying questions.
Some key elements of active listening include:
Giving the speaker your full attention.
Avoiding interrupting or talking over the speaker.
Restating what the speaker is saying to show/check that you understand.
Asking open-ended questions to encourage the speaker to expand on their thoughts.
Expressing empathy and trying to see things from the speaker’s perspective.
How to improve your active listening skills
Improving your active listening skills takes time and practice. Here are some ways you can get started and expand on the key elements listed above:
Pay attention to your body language and nonverbal cues. People will give you much more of their story with their body language. You do not have to read tons of books or take courses to understand this. Use your humanness to communicate with people. Trust your intuition. Look to see if they are comfortable or not. Where are their eyes moving? Make sure you are facing the speaker and maintaining eye contact, as this shows that you are engaged and interested. Avoid crossing your arms or looking at your phone, as this can signal disinterest.
Practice mindful listening. This means focusing on the speaker and the conversation at hand, rather than letting your mind wander or multitasking. If you find your mind drifting, try taking a deep breath and refocusing on what the speaker is saying.
Avoid interrupting or talking over the speaker. It’s essential to let the speaker finish their thought before jumping in with your own response. If you do need to ask a question, make sure to do so after the speaker is finished. It is okay to pause after someone finishes speaking. you do not have to jump into a conversation response immediately. Give yourself a few moments to think after the person completes their statement. Not only will you demonstrate that you were listening and not thinking about what you were going to say, but you will calm yourself down if you are anxious and allow yourself time to formulate a complete thought based on the complete thought of the other person.
Restate what the speaker is saying. This helps to show that you are paying attention and understanding what they are saying. You can do this by repeating back key points or paraphrasing their thoughts in your own words. Then if you misunderstood anything the speaker was saying, you give him/her a chance to clarify and restate their thoughts again so you are both on the same page. You may be discussing or arguing about something, and this tool allows you to argue about the same idea. Many people waste hours fighting because they did not define terms properly or they did not take the time to understand the opponent’s position fully. You do not have to end up agreeing with them, simply understand what they are actually saying instead of what you think they are saying.
Ask open-ended questions. These types of questions encourage the speaker to expand on their thoughts and ideas, rather than just giving a one-word response. Examples might include “Can you tell me more about that?” or “What do you mean by that?”
Practice empathy. Try to see things from the speaker’s perspective and put yourself in their shoes. This can help you better understand their thoughts and feelings and respond in an understanding way [“I understand how you must feel”]. Again, you do not have to do this in order to chang your whole outlook and perspective. you are trying to expand your thinking. Understanding the opposite side in a discussion allows you to be a complete thinker with multiple dimensions.
Starting small with improving your active listening skills
Improving your active listening skills doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are some small steps you can take to get started:
Practice active listening in daily conversations. Whether it’s with a colleague at work or a friend at a coffee shop, take the opportunity to fully engage with the person you are speaking with.
Make a conscious effort to put away distractions. This might mean silencing your phone, closing your laptop, or stepping away from the TV.
Set aside dedicated time for conversations. If you know you’ll be having a difficult or important conversation, make sure you have enough time to fully engage with the speaker.
Take breaks to process what you’ve heard. If you’re having a long or complex conversation, it’s okay to take a break to process what you’ve heard and gather your thoughts.
Practical ways to use active listening in real life
Active listening is a skill that can be applied in a variety of different settings, from personal relationships to professional ones. Here are a few practical ways you can use active listening in your daily life:
In personal relationships: Active listening is essential for building strong, healthy relationships with loved ones. It can help you better understand and support your partner, friend, or family member, and can also help to resolve conflicts and miscommunications.
In professional settings: Active listening is an important skill in the workplace, as it helps to build trust and understanding with colleagues and clients. It can also improve your ability to collaborate and work effectively as a team. It can also help you navigate the workplace and manage power dynamics with skill.
In conflict management: Active listening can be a valuable tool for resolving conflicts and misunderstandings. By fully paying attention and trying to understand the other person’s perspective, you can more effectively address and resolve issues.
Conclusion
Active listening is a valuable skill that can improve your relationships, manage conflicts, and enhance your professional and personal interactions. You can build trust, foster understanding, and create more meaningful connections by fully engaging with and understanding the speaker. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to fine-tune your active listening skills, the above tips and techniques can help you get started
The phrase “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, NKJV) is a powerful reminder of the sovereignty and majesty of God and the importance of finding rest and peace in Him. With as much focus as we place on war and fighting sin, we need to also be aware of the need for recovery and rest as well. We war against the flesh, and go to war for God, but we also need to be recuperated enough to return to that war ready to fight another day.
Through the technique “Be still”, we can recuperate the energy spent in war.
This verse encourages us to set aside our own fears, worries, and concerns, and to trust in God’s goodness, wisdom, and power. It can be easy to lose sight of God and to become overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, or to think of them as more important and demanding than they are. It can be very easy to become saturated in the daily ups and downs and the warfare “without and within” as the old church hymn says. However, this verse reminds us that we can find rest and peace in God by taking time to be still and to focus on Him.
There are several other verses in the Bible that speak to the importance of finding rest and peace in God.
For example, Psalm 62:5-6 (NKJV) states: “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.”
This verse encourages us to trust in God and to find our strength and hope in Him, rather than in our own abilities or circumstances. Not that we should never exert effort and try to work to improve our circumstances, but that we place our strength in God first, and then take action second. God’s power never excuses us from action, but it gives us power and strength through this process of life.
Another verse that speaks to the importance of finding rest and peace in God is Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV), which says: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
This verse reminds us that God is a loving and compassionate Savior who is willing to bear the burden of our troubles and is able to give us rest. He as the Commander of the army of God [Joshua 5:13-15] is both able to lead us to war and strengthen us when we need rest.
There are several practical tips for the application of Psalm 46:10 and other verses that speak to the importance of finding rest and peace in God. Some of these tips include:
I – Set aside time for quiet and solitude
One way to find rest and peace in God is to set aside time each day for quiet and solitude. This might involve setting aside a few minutes to sit in silence, to pray, or to meditate on God’s word. Silence is the key. Leave your distractions in another place. Go somewhere where you have no choice but to concentrate on God. Taking time to be still and to focus on God can help to calm the mind and to bring a sense of peace and clarity.
II – Practice gratitude
Another way to find rest and peace in God is to practice gratitude. This might involve taking time each day to reflect on the blessings and gifts that God has given us, and to express thankfulness for these things. Focusing on the positive aspects of our lives and thanking God for them can help to shift our perspective and to find peace and contentment in Him. As we have mentioned before, thankfulness is one of the key ingredients in the recipe for peace [Phil 4:6-7]
The phrase “Be still and know that I am God” is a powerful reminder of the importance of finding rest and peace in God. By setting aside time for quiet and solitude, and practicing gratitude, we can draw closer to God and find peace and rest in Him.
Throughout history, masculinity has been defined and understood in a variety of ways. In ancient societies, masculinity was often associated with strength, courage, and the ability to protect and provide for one’s family and community. Men who possessed these qualities were often seen as more desirable as leaders, partners, and fathers.
In ancient Greece, the ideal of masculinity was epitomized by the concept of the “hero,” who was brave, strong, and willing to take risks in the pursuit of glory and honor. The Greek hero was expected to be physically fit and skilled in the arts of war and was celebrated for his courage and bravery in battle.
In ancient Rome, masculinity was similarly associated with strength and military prowess.
Roman men were expected to be physically fit and trained in the arts of war and were often celebrated for their military victories. In Rome, masculinity was also linked to social status, as men of higher social standing were expected to possess qualities such as courage, intelligence, and leadership skills.
In ancient China, masculinity was defined by the Confucian virtues of filial piety, loyalty, and respect for authority.
Men were expected to be loyal and obedient to their rulers and to show respect for their elders and ancestors.
In ancient Japan, masculinity was linked to the samurai code of honor, which emphasized bravery, loyalty, and a willingness to die for one’s lord.
Throughout history, the concept of masculinity has varied widely from culture to culture. However, certain themes and qualities have remained constant, such as strength, courage, and a willingness to protect and provide for one’s family and community.
In ancient Christianity, masculinity was closely tied to the concept of being a “man of God,” or someone who lived their life in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Christian men were expected to be strong in their faith, courageous in their actions, and selfless in their service to others.
One of the most important qualities of masculinity in Christianity is leadership. Christian men are called to be leaders in their homes, churches, and communities, and to set an example for others to follow. This requires strength of character, wisdom, and a willingness to make difficult decisions.
Another important aspect of masculinity in Christianity is Service. Jesus himself lived in Service to others, and Christian men are called to follow in his example by putting the needs of others before their own on occasion. This involves being selfless, compassionate, and willing to help those in need, even at great personal cost.
Another important quality of masculinity in Christianity is strength of character.
Christian men are called to be men of integrity, honesty, and moral fortitude. They are expected to stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular, and to be role models for others.
Overall, ancient masculinity in Christianity is about being a strong and courageous man of God who leads by example, serves others selflessly, and possesses strength of character. It is about living a life that is grounded in faith and guided by the teachings of Jesus Christ.
