CHOOSE: UPWARD SPIRAL

Noticing this downward spiral stair case inside the new Church Health Center at the Crosstown Concourse started me thinking.

In my thinking, spiraling usually has a downward connotation.
In one's thought life, is it just as easy for something to spiral upward?

I assume bad choices and stressors in life can have tremendous negative impact---a downward spiral of sorts. But....can there be a positive spiral, one with an upward motion?

Recent marginalia sent me on this pursuit of understanding positive and negative emotions. Are there benefits to both?

Negative emotions can help us survive. Positive emotions help us thrive.

If a downward spiral is a metaphor for deterioration (negative) then upward spiral must be a metaphor for growth. (positive) Yet, both have momentum. 

For sure, too much of any spiral can be dizzying. Upward spiral is directed towards a higher place. But what happens if a downward spiral in one's  thought life has them bottoming out emotionally? Physically? Spiritually?

Can a successful turnaround occur just by choosing the "thought" direction of one's spiral? 

According to Rosabeth Moss Kanter’s book, Confidence, an upward spiral focuses with confidence. Certain resources that accompany this confidence could be trust, accountability, knowledge, or any asset that helps a business, community or individual thrive.

If so, I choose today to think on and "thrive" with an upward spiral focus.

CHOOSE: SADNESS

Sometimes one cannot help but to choose sadness. Sometimes sadness chooses you.

That's what happened with me when the "New Yorkers" had to leave Disney World a day early.

            

Impending SNOW in New York---a real nor'easter. It even has a name. Winter snow storm "Reggie."

"....a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

That's life---"unto everything there is a season." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

All week we have had laughter and dancing and I need to focus on that. Great family memories.

But.....I also don't need to repress the sadness. I didn't.

The tears flowed as last year we only saw them once. Even this time "Mommy" had to stay home and teach. So, I cried for all of that. I don't even know when we'll see them again so I added that to the tears as well.

But God and other family members reminded me the importance of remembering the recent "season" of family celebrations.

What a "privilege" to be with Lucy as she met her favorite Elsa and Anna....... 

and had dinner in Cinderella's palace with her 6 male cousins and met lots of other princesses.

That helps me to smile through the sadness, though my heart still aches. 

STATUS WOE

1/12/12 Monday’s First Evan prayer time verse from Micah 7 reflected my musings. It took me awhile just to get beyond verse 1, “Woe is me!”

But God…..

⁷ But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; (more time in His Presence with Word open)
I will wait for the God of my salvation. (waiting for status woe “funk” to pass)
My God will hear me. (Keep crying out & allow others to cry out on your/my behalf)
⁸ Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. (despair, irritability, sadness)
Though I fall I will rise; (every year around this time seems to be the pattern)
Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me. (It’s there I see it!! Light for me from the One who created light and gives light to His children.)

Teetering emotions are on the upswing.

Status woe is NOT my status quo today!