How do you mentally soar over gloomy thoughts that would make life seem dull or joyless?
Disturbing news reports, and the effects of isolation, can leave us feeling down-in-the-dumps or heavy-hearted. Yet right in the midst of dejection, we can rise-up out of darkened thinking. We can prayerfully fire-up those spiritual “thought-burners” that enable us to mentally soar above despondency.
How to let your thoughts rise.
One day, from a hotel room high up on the twentieth floor, I saw four huge, colourful hot air balloons hover silently, majestically, in the early morning sky over the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As I stood captivated by their close proximity, they suddenly rose upwards and glided away with effortless ease. A boost of the hot air that filled them, allowed them to soar high above the ground – seemingly free of earthbound restrictions.
As I watched this spectacular, upward soaring flight, it reminded me of what we can do if our spirits are dragged down by joyless activities, family problems, unhappy relationships, or unfulfilling employment. On such occasions, we can prayerfully fuel our thinking with the uplifting thought-qualities of faith, hope, and trust. These powerful, uplifting, spiritual qualities, are ours to reflect, because we are the image of God, of divine Life and Soul. Taking ‘onboard’ strong faith, unwavering hope, and steadfast trust in the goodness of God, enables our spirits to effortlessly rise. After all, it’s God’s all-powerful presence that is the elevator of our thought, “the lifter up of my head.” (Psalms 3:3)
Embrace faith, hope and trust.
Embracing the spirit-raising qualities of faith, hope and trust, leads to an expectation of good, and the conviction that God, our loving Father-Mother, is always at hand to help and bless us. By taking this “spiritual fuel” on board, we are able to break free of sorrow, and let our thought soar effortlessly upwards.
● Have faith. Right now, no matter how earthbound we may feel, it’s possible to let our spirits soar with the spiritually mental power of faith in God’s love. This is not difficult to do. Yet some times, when we’re overcome with doubt or fear, we think we’re flightless – stuck on the ground in a pit of unhappiness. However this isn’t so. We can change this notion and be a spiritual believer. We can hold to the truth that through God’s grace, we’re able to experience peace and happiness.
Being a spiritual believer, gives us a confidence that “all things are possible to the person that believes”. (Mark 9:23.) This is not pie-in-the-sky thinking. Many people have gained happiness and contentment, because they believed with all their heart, that God was right there with them, joyously lifting them up out of fearful thinking. “Scripture informs us that “with God all things are possible,” — all good is possible to Spirit;” (Mary Baker Eddy. Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 232:9–1)
Having a strong faith in God, allows our thinking to soar mentally upwards with the spiritual conviction that each of us is the blessed child of God. As His cherished one, we can experience the exhilaration of freedom from despondency. We can achieve the gladness and harmony which is our spiritual birth right!
● Be hopeful. There is a spark of hope that resides permanently within our thinking. This flame of hopefulness, ignites our mental “flight-burners”. It raises on high our spiritual thinking. And with hope on board, we’re able to soar over negative thoughts. Hope makes our confidence grow. We expect to achieve contentment and joy through God’s ever-present help. We discover that if others can be contented and joyous, then so can we. God made us contented, and He keeps us contented. Happiness, satisfaction, fulfilment, is ours here and now. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” (Psalms 43:5)
● Foster trust. To soar over dejection, we need confidence that God’s goodness is ever-present every moment. This divinely spiritual conviction that we are loved and cared for at all times, is what allows the warm-air of gratitude to heat-up our heart and mind. Gratitude is another fuel for soaring. We can be grateful for the good times we’ve already experienced, and for the glad times that have yet to come. Such gratitude prepares us to be the receiver of further good at home, school, or work. “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6)
Stand tall. Elevate your thinking.
There are times when it seems easier to stay discouraged, than make the effort to rise above doubt, fear or hopelessness. However, such mental resignation doesn’t bring freedom. In this situation, the answer can be to mentally “stand tall” – to stand up to negative feelings by prayerfully elevating our thinking. Lifting our thought to a higher position, will lead us to freedom, as illustrated in the story of the two men who went fishing in a small rowboat.
One sunny morning, the friends set out to sea in their small rowboat for a spot of fishing. Later that day, before they knew it, they were enveloped in thick fog and unable to see land. As they drifted dangerously further out to sea, fear set in. Then one man had an idea – gain elevation. Obeying the thought, he carefully stood up in the boat. As he did so, his head rose above the low-level fog. From his elevated position he could see the shoreline. They were able to row safely towards the land.
This experience shows the way to gain mental freedom. When the fog of discouragement and downheartedness rolls in, we can prayerfully “stand tall” and lift thought up above the gloom. We can “Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures p. 393:12) Doing this enables us to triumph over being discouraged or downhearted.
When we have the kind of spiritual self-assurance that is underpinned by the understanding that there is a divinely accessible source of mental power outside of, and not dependent on, any human condition, we become empowered. Our spirits are raised up. We’re able to soar mentally and find find freedom and happiness.
Related:
1. Sing.
2. Worry list or prayer list? PDF.
3. Solo – Get Wisdom, Get Understanding
