Power of Positivity

            “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)
 
            Recently, I’ve seen the truth in this scripture first hand. I had to tap into the power of positivity to carry me through what I thought would be a grueling stretch: 8 work days in a row with each day being 9-10 hours in a high-stress environment. And while at times it seemed each day crawled by, before I knew it, I was looking up and I was on day 8…in one piece.
            And the crazy thing was I can recall other instances where I’d been tasked to work 6 days in a row and by that 6th day I was crawling on my knees to reach the finish line. So what was the difference this time? My mindset.
            “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

A few snaps from my Half Dome hike at Yosmite, nothing but the Lord carried me 7 miles up and 7 miles down that mountain ;D

             Throughout the whole stretch I knew I had to lean on God. I looked ahead to my glorious 3 off days on the horizon after the stretch was complete but kept a tunnel vision to each day’s tasks. I asked God to help me not focus or dwell on the people who were coming and going in the midst of my 8-day stretch; who were embarking on vacations as I produced and managed two newscasts a day but rather just focus on my portion.
 
            “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3: 22-24) 
 
            And although I wouldn’t be the first one to volunteer to work 8 long days in a row; I’m glad I went through the experience. It is another experience I can use in future days if I need to dig deep. I’ll know I have the strength to make it though the next obstacle and I’ll remember God’s past faithfulness.
 
            “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4: 12-13)