Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air… Philippians 2:14–16 (MSG)
When I was about 12 years old, old Trapper in Northern Saskatchewan hired me to be responsible for checking some of his traps. Each trap was a bit different, but they all had a type of lever you could push to open them.
One day I managed to spring a beaver trap on my hand. Opening this particular trap required you to push down on two springs at the same time. With one hand stuck fast in the trap, I was unable to do it myself. I managed to pull out the stake that held a trap in place and walked until I found someone who could help me get free. It wasn’t a fun experience, but it was a memorable one. As I watch people’s reactions to certain situations, I’m often reminded of it.
Some people seem to have the mind set to the negative. Like a trap springs shut when it is tripped, their mind snaps on the negative when triggered. For example, when you compliment some people, their mind immediately flips to all their flaws, listing twelve things they could have done better. When you complement others, who do not have their mind set to the negative, they respond with gratitude for your encouragement. They are able to accept the compliment.
Is your mind trapped in the negative? Practice focusing on the positive today. If the negative thoughts about yourself or about someone else pop into your mind, replace it with something positive. When someone gives you a compliment, accept it!