These Wild Thoughts: [Optimism] in All Things

The past few weeks have carried me upwards and downwards as far as my emotions are concerned. I guess you could say I don't handle stress very well! With the wedding coming up, my emotions have been, to be frank, a hot mess. When something has gone entirely wrong--well, at least that's how I feel--I tend to blow a gasket. However, after my computer screen just randomly cracked last night and following my initial freak-out, I had an epiphany.
I heard a little voice say, "It could be worse."
Isn't that the truth! It could be worse. Why should I dwell on what's going wrong when there are so many things in my life going right? I don't want to be someone who looks at the glass half empty rather than half full. That would make me life seem so much worse than it is. In fact, my life isn't terrible at all!
I've got so many blessings that have been poured out on me in abundance. Why? Because my Heavenly Father loves me. It's sweet; simple.
When I'm handed challenges, I feel like God is rooting for me to find joy in the trials I face while the opposing team yells and screams at me to be ungrateful and to be miserable because of these experiences.
But the honest to goodness truth is, it's so much easier to give in to the negativity when something goes awry. The first thing I want to do is be frustrated, maybe even yell or mutter something under my breath. What I've come to learn over the past twenty years--which is sad that it's taken that long--is that acts and feelings of anger will get you no where. In fact, they'll only make you angrier.
Instead of giving in to Satan and letting him win, choose God. He's cheering you on. When you accept the support of your Heavenly Father, even in the small trials, you will win every time.
Here are three things that help me in moments of anger:
1. Don't say anything you'll regret. Remember, if your mother taught you well you'll remember the phrase, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!" In moments of fury, it's so easy to spit out the first thing that comes to mind, but it's important to remember that the words you choose to say could be even more hurtful than the cause itself.
2. Stop, breathe and count to ten...or one hundred if you're really mad. I know it's silly, but it works! For some odd reason, allowing yourself to stop and breathe slows your heart rate which rises when you're infuriated and calms you down.
3. Count your blessings. This one could quite possibly be the hardest one to do, but it's very necessary. I want to be better about this. What's the point in lingering on the gloom when God have given us so much radiance through His tender blessings? At the moment, it may seem as if there are no blessings, but if you will take time to think of a few--because let's be honest, there are too many blessings to list them all--the situation at hand will be much more bearable.
Next time you're upset over something, remember these words to one of my favorite hymns:

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost

Count your many blessings; name them one by one

And it will surprise you what the Lord has done

Chorus:

Count your blessings; name them one by one,

Count your blessings; see what God hath done.

Count your blessings;

Name them one by one

Count your many blessings; see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?