I’ve been forgetting to be positive. To be an encourager. To build up and not tear down.
I won’t speak for you. I’ll just speak for me. I’ve been forgetting to find ways to make the world around me better.
I’ve been letting negativity weigh me down. There are lots of bad things out there. Several people that I know well are going through times of trial. It weighs on me.
I’ve been letting stress distract me. I’m traveling more than ever this year. My workload seems bigger than ever, yet I keep accepting responsibilities. And I’ve been letting that pull me away from the fruit of the Spirit.
I pledge to do better. Not promising that I’ll be perfect at it, but I’m going to do my best.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
I think it’s important to first define “negativity.” Unfortunately it has become the excuse to dismiss constructive criticism thereby we go and arrive at nowhere.
That’s a good point. We shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. I guess part of learning to be an encourager is knowing how to give criticism that builds up.