Defusing Sadness and Promoting Joy

   Creating a joy journal, composing a gratitude poster, communicating prayers of thanks, are recommended ways of coping with sadness. Have you tried any of these helpful activities?  

   When a person is feeling “down”, it can be for a myriad of physical and emotional reasons.  Which of the following causes might be harming you?

• ·        Poor nutrition and/or dehydration
• ·        Exhaustion/ lack of sleep
• ·         Mistreatment by others
• ·         Misperceptions of others’ behavior, communication, actions toward you
• ·         Illness or age
• ·         Adjustment to a new situation (job, family or friend circumstances, a move, death/loss etc.)
• ·         Stress (physical, emotional, relational)
• ·         Feeling out of control/worried
• ·         Lack of healthy physical activity
• ·         Lack of outdoor activity: sunshine, fresh air, scenic views
• ·         Poor work/rest balance

   This list is not referring to clinical depression that needs professional help and possibly medication to adjust a brain’s chemical imbalance. Rather, this is the lower level sadness that sneaks up unexpectedly when you’re not paying attention to its cause. It’s the listless blues that taunts Christians with a self-condemning “oh you of little faith!” 

   

   To be human is to experience a gamut of emotions, including those that may be damaging to our faith. Our bodies have needs and limitations that can’t be ignored without consequences. How important is preplanning for the inevitable sad times of life?  My disposition affects my reception of God’s Word and how I follow his command of sharing his grace with others.  With Holy Spirit power, Christ-followers can avoid many causes of despondency by deliberately spiritual growth.

   Thus the importance and reason for these gratitude producing prescriptions:

Joy Journal

  A joy journal can be made from any size or type of notebook.  I like the college-lined small spiral bound ones that can fit in my purse or pocket.  The goal is to carry it with you to jot down things you see, do, or think of that make you smile. It could be a joke, colorful birds at your feeder, a child’s conversation, seeing an act of kindness, or noticing new beauty in your surroundings.  The listings can be sketches made with colored pencils or words written with favorite pens.  Make it enjoyable and easy to do.  If you continue to do this for a month, it will become a habit of joy reminders that perk up your thoughts.

Gratitude Poster

   When my children were in preschool, we looked through magazines to cut out pictures of things they wanted to thank God for.  They glued these, along with photos of family members, on a large poster board. This became a visual reference for prayers and a Thanksgiving decoration. A gratitude poster could include pictures, photos, drawings and whatever you would like to add.  Making this a family activity at your home or a special get together, would create additional blessings to count. All art and creativity levels are acceptable!

Prayers of Thanks

   I hate to admit that I usually only remember to give thanks to the LORD for food and loved ones. Because that list is embarrassingly short, I need to ask Jesus to remind me of all my blessings. His answer is the same answer for all life’s questions and concerns:  Look in my Word.   Here are a few thanks giving prayer examples. Your assignment is to find many more. J

Psalm 100
  It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
  For the Lord is good;
  His mercy is everlasting,
  And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 136:26  Give thanks to the God of heaven,
  For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
 in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

1 Corinthians 15:57 

Thank God that he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.