Today we will continue with the Guest Post series, The Battle Within. I am so thankful for the opportunity to share my blog with a lovely woman named Jane. Be sure to check out her blog, and leave your comments below!
Let’s face it, we all have seasons in our lives where we are faced with such issues as anxiety, depression, mental fatigue, mental imbalance, phobias and panic. For some, seasons come and then they go, but for others the seasons seem to last a lifetime. No matter the length of the season, we all have the ability to choose positivity. When we wake each morning we have a choice to make and choosing to be positive can make a world of difference in our quality of life.
I go through seasons of depression. Sometimes it is for just a day while other times it can last much longer. Each day I wake up I can feel it trying to overwhelm me before I can even step out of bed. It looms there waiting for me to rise up and try to start my day. It is during that time that the crucial step of making the choice to be positive becomes most important. In that moment I could lie back down and stay in bed all day allowing the depression to consume me for another day…or….I can get up despite my mental status and choose to be positive. I can smile even though I don’t feel like it. I can get moving, even though I don’t want to. I can talk to people even though my mouth just wants to stay shut. When I choose to be positive and carry on with life despite my mental status, I find that my quality of life is much better.
When I get up and start moving the depression seems to take a back seat to life instead being the driving force. When I talk to others, not about my situation but rather listening to them about theirs, I find that being there for them improves my view about my own life. I realize that I am not the only one in this world facing difficulties and knowing I am not alone helps immensely. It helps me to step outside of myself and show love to others. It removes my self-centeredness and allows me to improve my quality of life by helping others improve theirs. When I smile the smile eventually becomes a true smile that gets me through my day. My positivity increases and before I know it, my day has come to an end and it is time to rest.
As I prepare to rest I reflect on my day and see the positive outcomes. I may still feel depression but my quality of life, for that day, was so much better due to the positivity I chose to have. One day is all that matters when you are truly living life. The Lord tells us to focus on living one day at a time because yesterday is gone and tomorrow will have its own battles. Live in today and choose to be positive today. Let today be the best day you can possibly have, even if all that means is that you get out of bed and choose to smile. Life is good, we just have to choose to see the positive side of it. God is good, He will provide the strength you need and the eyes to see and the heart to feel the positive side of this season. All you have to do is ask!
Lord,
I pray today for all who are suffering a particularly rough season in life. No matter what the cause, I ask that you cover them in your grace. I ask that you open their minds, hearts and eyes to the positive aspects of their lives. Father you say to live for today, and I ask that you give them the strength to act on that positivity and begin to live today and only in today. Lord, take their worries of tomorrow and lock them away, instead giving them peace of mind, strength of spirit and a positive heart. In Jesus beautiful name. Amen.
Jane Reed
is the author and creator of The Green Tomato Experience blog and the owner of Jane Reed Photography. She spends the majority of her time in the kitchen where she finds peace and harmony in her life. She is known to enjoy Starbucks Frappucinos even though she knows she shouldn’t. Her favorite woman in the Bible is Ruth because she loves her perseverance and integrity. She is currently working on an amazing cookbook that she hopes will bring peace and joy to your kitchens as well!! All photographs are property of Jane Reed Photography and come from Jane’s personal Stele Collection.
Defying Shadows 
Reblogged this on The Green Tomato Experience and commented:
The fourth in my guest series The Battle Within for Defying Shadows entitled The Power of Positivity. I have truly enjoyed guest posting for Nichole. She really is a great person and I feel blessed to have been able to meet her!!