ENERGY – YOU NEED IT SO YOU CAN HAVE HOPE

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By Sally Tippett Rains

We are nearing the political election and it is affecting everyone. I was sad to see some of my friends literally fighting online over the Supreme Court nominee. Friends fighting over politics, race, and now this.

The only way we can survive peacefully is to make an effort to change our own attitudes. We can’t change others, so in order to have peace in our hearts we must forgive others who don’t think like we do. If I ever find myself angry at someone because I don’t like what they are doing, I pray to God to change MY heart. People are going to do or say what the want– but I don’t have to feel stressed out because of them. And if I do, it’s my own fault. I can choose happy.

Whatever your fears or angers are regarding the elections, remember that the next day the sun will rise and God will be in control—not those who won the elections. They may be in the world, but the real One in charge is God. He never changes. He never lies to us. The world may change but God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Don’t be fearful for the election.  One of the “15 Keys to a Happy Life” that I wrote about in Choose Happy; Find Contentment in Any Situation is Energy. All this unhappiness contributes to low energy level. When our energy is low– our defenses are down– we tend to lose hope. Having hope gives us peace in our hearts and that’s really what we are all after.

If you are zapped of energy, how can you live a good life? And during this pandemic—plus the elections– do you find yourself with no energy sometimes?

We know what foods help us feel good and what bring us down. When we are feeling scared, mad, or otherwise upset we tend to eat the wrong foods. It would really help us to eat healthy, get sleep, exercise and feed our minds with peaceful thoughts.

One of the two biggest causes of being tired is what you put in our body and what you put in your mind. Now more then ever, eat right, and put positive things in your mind. You have already started on that by reading this.

Here are a few energy zappers, according to the Mayo Clinic

  • Unhealthy eating (or drinking) habits
  • Lack of sleep
  • Lack of physical activity—or too much physical activity
  • Other factors like medications, jet lag, use of alcohol or drugs

I am praying for all who read this, that you have health and happiness– and the energy needed to achieve both. We will all survive this and we will come out better. We just need to keep blinders on and move forward– not listening to those who want to scare us, upset us, or put us down. We will put our energy into the goodness of the world and when we do the energy comes back to us.

“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NIV).

One Last Thought

According to an article in Psychology Today by Cherie Bourg Carter, these are some surprising things that can zap our energy. Some of them may actually surprise you:

1) Tight clothes 2) High Heels  3) Clutter (Straighten things up in the areas you will be)  4) Working Straight Through (Be sure to take breaks to energize) 5) Negative people 6) Heavy Lunches and Junk Food  7) Skipping Breakfast 8) Dehydration (Be sure you are drinking enough.)

I got a kick out of this list because the are things we would never think of– but tight clothes definitely can change my attitude about the day. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that can change our attitude and send us on a great day.

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Sally Tippett Rains is a motivational speaker, inspirational writer and author of 13 books, including Choose Happy; Find Contentment in Any Situation. She is the volunteer Executive Director of Rainbows for Kids and content manager for STLSportsPage.com.

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Fifteen  Keys to a Happy Life

F orward- Keep moving forward

I nitiative- Take the initiative and start things.

N ow- Do it now, live in the now

D etermination- Stay determined to making it

C ommunity –Accept the help of others

O ptimism- Don’t give up on yourself or others

N ew Ideas- Maybe  it’s the time to try new ideas

T enacity- Stay in the game, you can do it

E nergy – Do what you need to do to have energy.

N ormalcy – Embrace your “new normal” 

T rust – Trust yourself and others.

M indfulness –Don’t worry about the future.

E ncouragement  Encourage yourself and others.

N utrition and Health – Take care of yourself.

T ranquility – Learn to just be at peace.