It’s so easy to complain, get caught up in the victim mindset, and start believing that our situation is hopeless. We read things on social media or the news that paint a picture of hopeless, and we believe them. The world is filled with negativity and limitations. Any time that we start agreeing with negativity, instead of fighting against it, then we are hurting ourselves.

I got fired from a job once because I couldn’t wring out a mop good enough. At the time, it devastated me. For a while, it broke my spirit. The negativity from one person was so strong that it could have destroyed my life — if God hadn’t intervened. So often we don’t think about the energy that we are putting into the world or how our behavior affects other people. I never want to convince others of my limiting beliefs. I want to be the dreamer, the encourager, the inventor, the creator, the one who thinks so far outside of the box that I persuade others to do the same.

The world has enough negative energy. It doesn’t need anymore. We need to lift our heads and stop listening to the enemy. He is the negative thoughts. He is the one who steals our joy. We only get this one life. I don’t want to spend my life whining and complaining. I want to be doing the things that others see as impossible.

It’s all about our perspective. I’ve had people ask me how I could love a God that allowed my body to be scarred. I’ve had people ask me how I can be so grateful for the one finger on my left hand and my thumb. It’s simple. We have to find joy in what we have been blessed with. If I can’t be grateful for two fingers, then I wouldn’t be grateful for five. Honestly, I’m thankful that I have a hand at all. When I think of all the things my left-hand does for me daily, the value of it becomes priceless.

I’ve played the victim card. I’ve walked around with my head dropped, complaining about everything. Later, when my perspective changed, I asked God to forgive me for being so ungrateful.

Anytime we are struggling with something, we just need to ask God for the right perspective. The devil shows us the problem with everything. God shows us the possibility in everything. The one we give our attention to will expand in our lives.

Candida Sullivan is an author and inspirational speaker. She lives in New Tazewell with her husband and kids. For more information about her books or to schedule her for your event, email her at candidasullivan@yahoo.com.