HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY? Every day we have different sad feelings that drain us and different happy feelings that give us extra joy and energy. The feelings that drain the energy out of us are anger, frustration, fear, stress, guilt, shame, and sadness. Happy feelings are things like love, joy, peace, hope, inspiration, wonder, thankfulness, and fun.
Whatever is happening in our lives, we can always choose to experience the good feelings that help us live the amazing life Jesus came to give us (John 10:10). Here are some great things you can choose to do to help you feel better!
CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON GOD’S LOVE!
1 John 4:7-19
- God’s love for you is powerful, deep, and unchanging. Imagine He is writing a letter to encourage and comfort you today. Write out that letter and read it aloud to yourself.
- Imagine you are having a goodnight hug on Father God’s lap. What will you tell Him about your day, and how will He gently and lovingly respond to you?
- Tell God how you are feeling because He cares about your feelings. Chat to Him about your day and listen to His love in the quietness afterward.
CHOOSE INSPIRATION!
Romans 12:2
- Start a scrapbook or decorate a noticeboard with your favorite inspirational verses and quotes.
- Ask an older person to tell you an inspiring story from their life.
- Make a list of different qualities of God and be inspired by His loving character.
CHOOSE PEACE!
John 14:27
- Think of three times when you felt calm and peaceful. What made you feel so peaceful? How can you do more of those things when you feel worried or afraid?
- Light a candle and watch the flame, or watch a flickering battery-operated candle. Imagine that Jesus, the Light of the world, is shining His peace and love into your life.
- Make a list of things that calm you. Watch waterfalls; listen to birdsong; smell the fragrance of oranges, lavender, and baking bread; massage your hands, etc.
CHOOSE JOY!
Philippians 4:4
- Make a list of 100 simple and small things that bring you joy. Write each one on a separate index card. Choose one idea every day. Write on the back of the card what you did and how it made you feel.
- Write happy thoughts and quotes on slips of paper. Roll them up and keep them in a Joy Jar. Choose one whenever you need some extra joy. Make a Joy Jar for a friend.
- Place sticky notes, tags, or labels on your favorite things. On them write “This brings me joy because . . .”
CHOOSE WONDER!
Psalm 86:8-10
- • List three things you can taste, see, smell, touch, and hear that fill you with wonder.
- • Watch a video clip or documentary about something in nature that fills you with wonder.
- • Make a collection of natural objects that fill you with wonder, such as a peacock feather, shells, bark, stones, etc.
- • Take photos or find pictures to illustrate some of the wonders God made on each day of creation. How would you illustrate the Sabbath?
CHOOSE LAUGHTER!
Proverbs 17:22
- Invite everyone in your family to share what made them laugh this week.
- Watch some funny animal videos together and vote for the funniest.
- Ask a lonely or sad person to tell you what they enjoy doing most, and then invite them to do it with you.
CHOOSE GRATITUDE!
1 Thessalonians 5:18
- Stick a sheet of paper on your refrigerator or wall.
- Write what you are thankful for, and add pictures, photos, messages, Bible verses, and quotes to create a “gratitude wall.”
- Thank God for the different things you enjoy with each of your senses—things you can taste, touch, hear, smell, and see.
- Create and write a special thank-you card for God to thank Him for His love for you.
CHOOSE HOPE!
Romans 15:13
- List five things you look forward to every day. Make those moments extra special.
- Talk with your family about what you are most looking forward to in the earth made new (Revelation 21).
- Think of three times when you were worried about something but things turned out much better than you expected. What can you learn from these experiences?
CHOOSE TO USE YOUR SPECIAL SKILLS!
Romans 12:6
- Choose to do one of the chores in your home in the best way possible. Find a way to make it fun!
- Use one of your special skills to bring joy to someone else.
- Ask an older person to teach you a skill they learned when they were young. Enjoy your time together.
CHOOSE CREATIVITY!
Colossians 3:23
- Make something to remind you how much God loves you.
- Design a machine to solve one of your biggest problems. How would it work and what would it do? Even though you can’t really have this machine, what can it teach you about solving your real problems?
- Choose one color of the rainbow at a time, such as red, and fill a page with all shades of that color using paint, crayons, markers, pieces of paper, pieces of pictures cut from magazines, etc. Then try orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and indigo. Enjoy the process!
CHOOSE KINDNESS!
Colossians 3:12
- Wrap a small gift and add a tag that says, “If you find this gift, it’s for you! If it doesn’t suit you, please pass it on to someone else.” Then leave it to be discovered.
- Be kind to each person in your family every day. Plan something kind to help others at least once a week.
- Write short, positive messages on sticky notes. Stick them in different places—inside a magazine, in a library book, on a package in a grocery store, on a mirror, etc.
FLOURISH LIKE A TREE!
Taking care of your emotions and choosing positive ones, like Paul in Philippians 4:6-11, helps you to stay emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthy. Draw a tree with a trunk, bare branches, and roots. Cut lots of leaves from any kind of green paper. Every time you choose to do something that is good for your mind, body, or spirit, stick a leaf on the tree to show that you are flourishing (Jeremiah 17:7, 8).
