How to Stay in a Good Mood
By Michael A. Verdicchio

As a Christian dad, what kind of a mood are you in?

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for people to be happy, excited, and positive when things go well? When there are no big problems, people feel good, and life is great! At those times, it is easy to be in a good mood. But, as a Christian dad, can you be in a good mood when things are not going well?

In general, when things are going well and there are no immediate problems, most people find it easy to be positive. As a result, they are in a good mood, and have a good day.

(For some people, though, it really doesn't matter if they are having a good day or a bad day. They remain convinced that even if something good is happening now, it certainly won't last. I honestly don't understand how someone with this line of thinking could ever be in a good mood.)

However, what about those times when a problem comes up? What happens when something unpleasant presents itself? What about a lost sale that you were expecting? It's not so easy to remain positive...or is it?

Nobody wants to have a problem come up, no matter how small. However, negative and unpleasant circumstances are going to happen from time to time. That's just a part of life. Tires wear out, sinks get clogged, and sometimes, eggs break!

When something negative does comes up, most people change from being happy and positive to being upset. The circumstances and situations have changed, and consequently their mood changes. For some people, even the slightest bump in the road can really set them off emotionally!

Our emotions and feelings are a direct product of our thoughts. We are the ones who choose our thoughts. We can't always choose what happens in life, but we can always choose what we think.

I'm not saying that we should try to live in a make believe world by telling ourselves blanket statements like, "Nothing is wrong; everything is okay." We certainly do need to assess the situation in order to respond with specific positive statement.

What? Respond with a positive statement? Yes, respond with a positive statement. A solution oriented statement. (Maybe even respond with two or three positive statements!)

Suppose you come home from the grocery store to find that your eggs are broken, because of the way they were packed into your grocery bag at the store. What would your reaction be?

You could get angry. You could say, "Now I've got to go all the way back to the store! Why don't they teach those young kids how to do it right? I knew he had a lousy attitude...probably did it on purpose. I'm going to talk to the manager!"

Hey! Chill out! This may sound like a silly illustration, but as a teenager I worked at a grocery store, putting items into grocery bags, and believe me, I have seen far worse reactions!

Can you respond with a positive statement for this situation? Sure! Why not?

"Okay, I'll just take these back now. I wonder, is there anything else that I need while I'm out? I I'm certainly glad that there are plenty of eggs at the store. In fact, I'm glad to have so much food available right down the street."

Here's the point. Our thoughts determine our emotions and feelings. Then, our actions follow. The kind of mood you are in right now is not someone else's fault; it is a result of your decision to think the way that you are thinking.

Try to evaluate your reactions for a few days. Especially take note of how you react to something unpleasant. Observe where your mind goes, and watch how your emotions and feelings correspond.

Here's the challenge. Starting with little things, like a couple of broken eggs, you can begin to train your mind to react differently in unpleasant and negative situations. If you stay consistent, you can get to the point that even in the midst of a very serious negative situation, you will still be in control of your mind, your emotions, and most importantly, your actions.

Many Christian dads allow their current circumstances and situations to determine their thoughts, emotions and actions. That will set them on a course for more of the same. They do not realize that they can change the way that they react.

Train your mind to react the way you want. Learn to live your life being in control of your thoughts, your emotions and your actions. With God's help, you can be a successful Christian dad.