Last week we celebrated the 4th of July here in the United States. That date marks our nation’s birthday – our Independence Day. Besides the usual array of hot dogs, parades, and fireworks, many of us took time and were reminded of the concepts of freedom and sacrifice.
However, I have a different kind of freedom on my mind today.
You see, we are often shackled by our own anger or the grudges that we hold. So often times, we give up control to a situation – or to someone else.
A friend told me the other day that “Nobody MAKES you angry, instead you CHOOSE to use anger as a response.” Wow! Not only am I trying to remember that each day but I am trying to teach that to my 10-year old son. He constantly tells me that “you made me do this” or “you made me angry”.
Every day, we have the awesome opportunity to make choice after choice that makes the world better. Yes, there are some bad things that happen to us. Yes, people will not act right some times. Yes, we’ll have disagreements with others. But we have freedom to choose how we react to those things.
People and circumstances don’t make us do anything. We have the freedom to choose. We can choose to be nice to others – not because they are nice or deserving – but because we are nice. Showing kindness and respect, oftentimes, says more about us than it does the other person.
This week, I want to encourage you to live a life of freedom wherever you are and whomever you are with. Choose to make the world better. You don’t have to argue about politics, religion, or sports to the point that you make enemies or annoy someone else. You can choose to be positive.
Positivity is not about ignoring challenges or negatives, but rather looking for ways to overcome those negatives. Instead of being a slave to problem-fixated thinking, break free and be solution-focused and positive this week.