The scripture tells us in Matthew 6:34, "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." One modern translation put it like this: "Why don't you let today's own trouble be enough for today?"
Worrying is one of the worst things we can do for our health. Worry can cause loss of sleep, weight loss, weight gain, overeating, heart attack, stroke, stomach ulcers, and just about every other physical ailment known to man. It is just not good for our health to worry. On the other hand, optimism can truly be the key to a healthy life. Those who spend less time worrying and more time enjoying life have much less stress and accomplish much more on a daily and long term basis.
I was discussing physical therapy recently with a registered nurse. She told me that medicine is 10% what the doctor says and 90% what the patient does. Time and time again doctors have been amazed at the incredible odds their patients have overcome. It seems that some people, when faced with a life-threatening or debilitating illness, will simply give up while others will be determined to defy the odds. It all has to do with attitude.
In the study of psychology I learned about different personality types. I have learned to recognize (if you put stock in such things) that I am a melancholy personality. Simply put, that means I am more inclined to see the glass half empty than half full. Melancholies are known to be dramatic, woeful, and consumed with their thoughts; we are also know to be easily depressed. We are also know to be creative, musically and artistically inclined, etc. We love deep and have fierce loyalty to something we deem to be a just cause.
Now I could dwell on the negative aspects of my personality if I wanted to but I am determined to prove the statistics wrong. I am determined to be all the good things that a melancholy is, and leave all the bad things for someone else to be. I can be thoughtful without being moody and temperamental. I can be loyal without being argumentative. I can be expressive without filling my life with drama. You get the picture; it all has to do with my attitude.
And if I don't succeed today, I'll just try again tomorrow. After all, there are a thousand tomorrows. I'll take them one day at a time and let God give me grace for each day as it comes. It's a great way to live - without all the ulcers, heart attacks and stress.
Don't worry, be happy.
Yours Truly,
Sullivan Jones
