False Psychology

I received my bachelors degree in psychology several years ago. I have to boast about this fact because a bachelors degree in psychology is not worth much more than bragging rights. I worked hard and learned a lot, but I will have to go to graduate school before I can do much of anything in the world of psychology. However, there are a few things I picked up in psychology classes that make for interesting conversations and contradict common thought. Many people fancy themselves to be amateur psychologists without knowing the statistics that can either support or completely negate their opinions.
For instance, did you know that letting your anger out isn’t the best way to deal with your anger? Studies show that expressing your anger, even towards inanimate objects like pillows and stress balls, reinforces your motivation to become angry. Being creatures of habit, we can become addicted to outward expressions of anger. If a pillow or stress isn’t available, one’s habitual anger can be directed any number of completely inappropriate places.
This next idea may seem a little confusing, but stay with me. The concept that simply believing in one’s self will lead to success is a tad backwards. Having confidence in one’s self can be a component of success, but individuals who have an inflated sense of self-worth can become very aggressive when their superiority is questioned. Instead of teaching kids to feel worthier, we should be teaching them the skills that will lead them to pride and success like good social skills and appropriate ways to deal with anger. It is great that this helpful idea as well as others can be found in scripture. The Proverbs alone are full of advice that is supported by several modern studies. God truly knows us best.

Living With Purpose Instead of Anxiety

This past weekend, I performed my very first wedding ceremony. This was no average wedding. This particular wedding joined my wife’s beloved sister and her husband in holy matrimony. After weeks of fearful agonizing, the wedding is over and I think I did fairly well. Again, I discovered that when I divert my self-centered thinking, remove my control, and allow God’s authority to reign, everything works out for the best. I can’t the times I’ve had to learn this lesson and I am certain I will have to learn it again quite a few times before my life is over.
The desire to see specific results in life can be the root of all kinds of evil and negativity. I heard someone summarize anger recently as the result of something that doesn’t take place as one intended. This might seem like an excessively simple definition of anger, but it’s a great one to meditate on (especially in times when anger starts to show its ugly face). Lately, when I find myself getting frustrated, worried, angered, etc., I start to think about my motivation for producing these various emotions. Just like a performer needs to find her character’s motivation to properly convey the character’s emotions, one must determine her own motivation to put one’s thoughts in the proper perspective.
We need to live a purpose and with motivation that comes from God. I wasn’t performing a wedding ceremony to score points with my wife’s family or get to impress the pants off some random strangers. I was fulfilling part of God’s plan for the lives of Sara’s sister and her new spouse. I was being used as an instrument. In 1 Tim, Paul makes Christian behavior personal, relating it to the nature of the church. The next time you find yourself getting upset about a situation you find yourself in or about the outcome of a situation, try to look at your position from God’s perspective.

Leaving Behind the Invaluable

Yesterday I came upon an interesting article that tells the stories of various items thought to be junk that turned out to be valuable artifacts. The most interesting tale, in my opinion, was that of an $800,000 Stradivarius violin. Called “The Duke of Alcantara”, this 267-year-old violin was donated to UCLA. In 1967, the violin was loaned to a member of UCLA’s string quartet (the university must have really trusted this violinist). After stopping to get groceries, the violinist found that his car was left unlocked and the Stradivarius was missing. 27 years later, a violin dealer found himself repairing the Stradivarius. Recognizing its significance, he did some research and found that the Stradivarius was missing from UCLA. The valuable violin was owned by a woman who received it through her divorce settlement. This woman’s ex-husband was given the Stradivarius by an aunt who found it on the side of the freeway in 1967. It appears the UCLA violinist left the violin on top of his car and drove away forgetting it was there.
It’s amazing how much value we attach to certain objects. I know that I would be panic-stricken if I lost my laptop computer. Though I treasure it, I’ve left my computer in places where it could be easily stolen. I tend to do the same thing with my faith and my morality. I’ve not always made the best choices in the people that I associate myself with and how I spend my time. I’ve often found myself in situations that cause me to compromise my representation of Christ. I’ve found myself beginning to doubt God. In 2 Peter 1:1, Peter uses the phrase “precious faith”. 2 Corinthians 5:7 states that “we live by faith”. Several times in scripture our faith is compared to food and water. We can’t live without it! One’s walk with God must be focused and persistent. Faith is not something that should be left behind like a cup of coffee on a car’s roof.