APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY: Week of November 18-24, 2024, Speech: What can I do to avoid negative thoughts?, Lesson 14, Prepared Assignment.

APPLY YOURSELF TO THE FIELD MINISTRY: November 18-24, 2024, Speech: What can I do to avoid negative thoughts?, Lesson 14, Prepared Assignment.

Speech (5 mins.) ijwyp 90. Title: What can I do to avoid negative thoughts? (th lesson 14).

Have you ever felt like negative thoughts just won't leave you alone? Maybe you made a mistake and can't stop thinking about it, or maybe the news, family problems, or social media are making you feel like nothing is going right. How can we stop those thoughts from taking over? Today I want to share with you some practical, Bible-based tips that will help us manage those thoughts and be more balanced. 

What kind of person are you? First, let's think about how we usually see life. There are people who are very optimistic. For example, Valerie says: I try to be as cheerful as I can. Then there are those who tend to be pessimistic, like Rebecca, who says: When something is positive, I think it's bad or too good to be true. And finally, there are realists like Anna, who says: I prefer to see things as they are, neither too optimistic nor pessimistic.

Now, what kind of person are you? Maybe you identify with some of these attitudes. The Bible gives us some very nice advice in Proverbs 15:15 : He who has a merry heart has a constant feast. This means that if we are positive and see things in a balanced way, we can enjoy life more.

Why is it important? We all have to face problems, it is part of life, the news is full of bad news. Families do not always get along and we all have defects that frustrate us, if we focus only on the bad, it is as if we were carrying too heavy a load. The key is to be balanced, it is not about ignoring the problems, but neither about getting stuck in them. How to achieve this, let's see some ideas.

What can we do? Look at your mistakes with balance. First, what do you do when you make a mistake? Sometimes we think how clumsy I am, how good for nothing, but that is not true, the Bible in Ecclesiastes 7:20 says: There is no one on earth so perfect that he always does good .  Mistakes are part of being human. A young man named Caleb expresses it very well: When I make a mistake I try not to dwell on it, rather I learn from my mistakes to improve, it does not seem like a very practical approach.

Another thing that can help us is not to compare ourselves with others. Another common problem is comparing ourselves with others. Have you ever looked at social media and thought that everyone seems to have a perfect life except me? Alexis says something very true: On social media you only see the best moments of someone's life. The reality is that no one shows their bad days. That is why the Bible advises us in Galatians 5:26 not to compete or feel envy. Instead of comparing ourselves, let's focus on the blessings that we do have.

Another point that can help us is to be peaceful, especially at home. Have you noticed that sometimes it is easier to be kind to a stranger than to our own family? The Bible in Romans 12:18 says: As far as it depends on you, be peaceable. It is true, we cannot control how others act, but we can control how we react.

Melinda, a teenager, explains it well: We all make mistakes, but it is up to us to decide whether we want to be peaceful or not. Let us strive to maintain peace especially with those we live with.

Finally, we should get into the habit of being thankful for the good things that are happening to us. A thankful heart helps us focus on the positive. In Colossians 3:15 the Bible says: Be thankful. A young woman named Rebekah does something interesting: Every day she writes down something positive that has happened to her. This helps her remember that not everything is bad.

Can we do something similar? Perhaps reflecting every night on something good that has happened to us. No matter how small it is, it will help us maintain a positive attitude. In conclusion, what can we do to avoid negative thoughts? To avoid negative thoughts, let us remember these four points: Let us see our mistakes in a balanced way, let us not compare ourselves with anyone, let us be peaceful and be grateful for all the good things that Jehovah has given us. If we apply these biblical tips, we will be able to face problems with a positive attitude and enjoy life more.