(November 07, 2024) Carol Round shares how to overcome the blues in these ongoing troubled times…

We all need encouraging and the apostle Paul wrote gave great advice to the Philippians … which we can apply to ourselves!

Philippians 2:1-4 says, ‘Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’

The uncertainties we face in today’s world are not new. Each generation faces turmoil and unrest. If we let it, we can be consumed by negative news and social media rants. It’s no wonder we’re drowning in the blues.

But, Paul, who had much to complain about, didn’t. Instead, from the prison cell where he was mistreated, Paul beat the blues by focusing on others, not himself.

In verses 3-4 above, he encouraged the Philippians by reminding them to ‘Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.’

Humility vs Humbleness
What’s the difference between humility and humbleness? According to Dictionary.com, while both refer to the quality of being modest, humbleness can also ‘mean the state of being or feeling low in rank.’

For example, Jesus was born in a humble stable and lived simply. However, Jesus also exhibited humility because He had a modest opinion of Himself.

Pastor Rick Warren says, ‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others.’

Thinking of Others
I was once asked by a family member, ‘What makes you happy?’ Without hesitation, I replied, ‘Doing for others.’

Researchers, documenting the benefits of volunteering, discovered that helping others gives you a well-being boost, giving you a purpose and meaning in life.

Have you ever been sad (or blue) and stepped outside your circle of despair to help another person? If you have, then you know the change it makes in your well-being.

Finding Purpose in Life
We weren’t created to be selfish beings, filled with self-importance. Try this experiment: The next time you’re down in the dumps, pay attention to those around you. Does someone need your assistance? Whether it’s running an errand for a neighbour, holding the door open for a stranger whose hands are full, or putting your cart into its proper place in the parking lot, even those small things improve your mood.

Recently, as I was entering the UPS store to make some copies, I heard a beautiful voice singing a song of praise. Stopping, I looked around to discover the singer was sitting in her vehicle nearby. Smiling, I said, ‘You have a beautiful voice. Thank you for sharing it with others.’

After she smiled and thanked me, my mood improved. The stress left my body and I let go of what had been weighing me down. Reaching out to others when you’re feeling blue is the best cure for what ails you.

Paul also wrote: ‘We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’(Ephesians 2:10).
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Carol Round is an author and inspirational speaker whose encouraging articles have appeared in many publications. Carol especially loves hearing from readers, saying ‘Feel free to share this post.’ For more inspiration, visit https://carolaround.com. Link: carol@carolaround.com.

Recommended: Journaling with Jesus and companion The 40 Day Challenge. These will help readers draw close to God— (See: http://bit.ly/2LGOvKN and Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/2pP5Yr6).
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