{"id":6418,"date":"2012-11-27T08:46:00","date_gmt":"2012-11-27T14:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/buildingcathedrals\/?p=6418"},"modified":"2012-11-27T08:46:00","modified_gmt":"2012-11-27T14:46:00","slug":"attitude-enhancement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/buildingcathedrals\/2012\/11\/attitude-enhancement\/","title":{"rendered":"Attitude Enhancement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

It is truly remarkable how easy it is to slip into a household of negativity around here. \u00a0Add in a four-day Thanksgiving break and lots<\/em> of family togetherness and our home was beginning to implode with pessimism, complaining, whiny responses, and a cloud of negative thoughts and attitudes. \u00a0Our home life started to feel toxic. \u00a0Something had to give.<\/p>\n

My husband and I talked it through and decided on a plan yesterday morning. \u00a0We needed to get back to routines, back to a schedule<\/em>. \u00a0With a family of seven, there is no other way. \u00a0We have to organize our time or else too many people are going in too many directions and someone gets lost in the mix. \u00a0Bedtimes suffer, sleep suffers, and then we are a total mess. \u00a0Schedules are like the skeletal frame of the day. \u00a0From there we build on the fleshy, meaty parts, but the skeleton has to be in place in order for the family body to function well. \u00a0We were going to have to get back to more schedules and better structure.<\/p>\n

After school, the kids came home and I brought out our wipe board with the afternoon schedule. \u00a0The routine was one we had established back at the start of school, but had somehow lost in the few months following. \u00a0I prepared myself for backlash, but rather than hearing whining, I saw relief. \u00a0Mom was in charge, they didn\u2019t have to fight for control, and my expectations were clear. \u00a0Our afternoon played out beautifully and our interactions were for the most part harmonious. \u00a0More than anything, I felt better and more on top of things, which started to turn the tide of my negativity. \u00a0Part one, check!<\/p>\n

The warm fuzzy jar, working its magic yet again<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Part two involved an old family favorite\u2013the warm fuzzy jar. \u00a0It\u2019s a simple little device made up of an old mason jar, a few stickers, and a slew of fuzzy pom poms. \u00a0It\u2019s effect, though, is always monumental. \u00a0It takes all the pessimism and turns it around to the positive. \u00a0Here\u2019s how it works: I look for acts of kindness, goodness, charity among my children. \u00a0For every good little thing, they earn a pom pom in the jar and a full jar means a reward for the family. \u00a0The kids can also let me know if they see a sibling showing kindness (but we discourage boasting of personal triumphs). \u00a0It really is so simple, but in one evening, I can vouch for its effectiveness. \u00a0I saw whining turned toward encouragement. \u00a0The complaining quieted. \u00a0Hugs and tenderness were felt. \u00a0Our home tipped back on the scales toward realness and not so heavily weighted toward negativity. \u00a0We were all happier, especially Mom! \u00a0Part two, check!<\/p>\n

With every day I live, I am more and more convinced that attitude is everything. \u00a0When we wake up each morning, we have a choice how we are going to live that day. \u00a0Will we be frustrated or sad? \u00a0Or will we rise above and make it positive? \u00a0Even more, we need to tap into the Father to really find true happiness. \u00a0If our peace is not rooted in Him, it will quickly fall and pass away. \u00a0He is our lifeline and in Him do we find strength to take the next step, implement the schedule, bring out the warm fuzzy jar\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cRejoice\u00a0in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! \u00a0Your kindness\u00a0should be known to all. The Lord is near. \u00a0Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. \u00a0Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.\u00a0Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.\u00a0Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.\u201d \u00a0Philippians 4:8<\/em><\/p>\n

God bless as we press on toward Advent!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is truly remarkable how easy it is to slip into a household of negativity around here. \u00a0Add in a four-day Thanksgiving break and lots of family togetherness and our home was beginning to implode with pessimism, complaining, whiny responses, and a cloud of negative thoughts and attitudes. \u00a0Our home life started to feel toxic. 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