{"id":9880,"date":"2021-12-16T14:22:43","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T14:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/?p=9880"},"modified":"2022-01-05T15:33:55","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T15:33:55","slug":"confronting-dark-thoughts-and-balancing-emotions-december-wellbeing-webinars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/confronting-dark-thoughts-and-balancing-emotions-december-wellbeing-webinars\/","title":{"rendered":"Confronting dark thoughts and balancing emotions. December Wellbeing webinars"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>16 December 2021 | St Albans, UK [David Neal]\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The latest TED Wellbeing webinars focus on two crucial issues for Christians: \u2018Confronting our Own Dark Thoughts and Experiences\u2019, and \u2018Balancing Emotions in an Unbalanced World\u2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In the first, TED Field Secretary, Pastor Ian Sweeney asked how is can be possible to harmonise \u2018Always Cheerful\u2019 with \u2018Lament\u2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_49210\"  width=\"800\" height=\"450\"  data-origwidth=\"800\" data-origheight=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CO46ZodfHw0?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/ted.adventist.org&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Ian Sweeney - Confronting our Own Dark Thoughts and Experiences\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure>\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\u00a0<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>&#8220;The idea that a follower of Christ has dark thoughts is not something we like to consider\u201d, Sweeney stated. However, he explained, \u201cConfronting our own dark thoughts and experiences is a necessary matter for the growing Christian to consider, because Christ himself said \u2018that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgement.\u2019\u201d (Matthew 12:36)<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo why do we have them?\u201d, Sweeney asked. \u201cBecause we are human,\u201d he said, a reality the Apostle James recognised about the ancient prophets. For instance, \u201cElijah was a man just like us.\u201d (5:17) The prophet Jeremiah\u2019s thoughts were at times far from godly. \u201cDo not forgive their crimes or blot out their sins from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger,\u201d he writes. (Jeremiah 18:23)<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:image {\"align\":\"right\",\"id\":9881,\"width\":384,\"height\":216,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\r\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9881\" title=\"Photo credit: Fernando Cferdo\/unsplash\" src=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"384\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash.jpg 900w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash-500x280.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash-350x197.jpg 350w, https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fernando-cferdo-6x2iKGi6SPU-unsplash-700x394.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/>\r\n<figcaption>Photo credit: Fernando Cferdo\/unsplash<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>\u201cWe also have them\u201d, suggested Sweeney \u201cbecause life is dark\u201d, perhaps as a result of an unjust situation or a bad personal experience. Who in their humanity does not want Jeremiah like revenge when the wicked prosper? (Jeremiah 12:1,2).<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>Are we to go into denial about what we see because of an inherited faith mindset which commands \u2018our hearts to be always cheerful\u2019? \u201cNot so,\u201d because the hymnbook of the Bible, The Psalms, provides ample evidence of the need at times to lament. Is it also possible, continued Sweeney quoting Walter Brueggeman, that our \u2018always cheerful\u2019 conditioning can possibly result in \u201cnumb denial and deception that does not want to acknowledge the disorientation of life.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>If it is a reality that we have dark thoughts, should we ever share with another human? To Sweeney, the matter is not clear cut. On the one hand, they are matters which God alone should hear. On the other hand, are there times when it is appropriate to share in the context of lament? \u201cThere are no easy answers\u201d, concluded Sweeney, \u201cbut when it comes down to it, God has to be the answer as we confront our dark thoughts.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p><strong>Balancing Emotions in an Unbalanced World<\/strong><br \/><br \/>The second December webinar \u2018Balancing Emotions in an Unbalanced World\u2019, was presented by Karen Holford, Family and Children\u2019s Ministries director, took place on Wednesday, 8 December. In one sense it was an expansion of the matter raised in Sweeney\u2019s webinar the day before.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/X5ecwvdiuN4\",\"type\":\"video\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"youtube\",\"responsive\":true,\"className\":\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"} -->\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_50624\"  width=\"800\" height=\"450\"  data-origwidth=\"800\" data-origheight=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X5ecwvdiuN4?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/ted.adventist.org&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&rel=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Karen Holford - Balancing Emotions in an Unbalanced World\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<!-- \/wp:embed -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>Beginning by examining \u2018What are emotions?\u2019, Holford used the Apostle Paul in a Philippi jail as the biblical foundation. \u201cHow is it that Paul in jail, awaiting execution, overflows with joy?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>Defining emotions as \u201cOur natural responses to living in a world that has chaos and pain, as well as beauty, love and joy\u201d(1), Holford cited research which found that \u201cmost people have a 2:1 ratio of positive to negative emotions\u201d, but \u201cwe usually have much better emotional health when the ratio is at least 3:1.\u201d(2)<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>Negative emotions appear in many forms: anger, contempt, disgust, embarrassment, fear, frustration, guilt, sadness, shame and stress.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>Meanwhile the ten most positive emotions are awe and wonder, fun, feeling valued, hope, gratitude, interest, inspiration, joy, and love.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>What is the answer then to staying emotionally balanced?<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a matter of perspective,\u201d says Holford. \u201cWe can focus on the dark and gloomy areas of life, or we can look at the bigger picture and notice the beauty, light, and joy around us.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>It\u2019s the \u2018bigger picture\u2019 that returns us to Paul in jail, a perspective grounded in prayer.<br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray!&#8230; Before you know it, a sense of God\u2019s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It\u2019s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.\u201d (Ephesians 4:6-7 The Message).<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>\u201cThe message of Paul in Philippians 4\u201d says Holford, \u201cis to focus on the positive and believe the best.\u201d Helpful counsel in today\u2019s world of chaos and pain.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>Watch the complete webinar to find practical ways to help increase positive emotions in your life.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p><em>1. \u2018Positivity\u2019 by Barbara Fredrickson, health psychologist.<\/em><br \/><em>2. See www.positivityratio.com<\/em><\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>To see the complete list of available seminars <a href=\"mediagallery\/wellbeing-webinars\">visit our Wellbeing page<\/a>.<br \/>________________________________________<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p>tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Vanesa Pizzuto, associate editor<br \/>119 St Peter&#8217;s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England<br \/>E-mail: <a href=\"mailto:tednews@ted.adventist.org\">tednews@ted.adventist.org<\/a><br \/>Website: www.ted.adventist.org<br \/>tedNEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division. Readers are free to republish or share this article with appropriate credit including an active hyperlink to the original article.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cThe idea that a follower of Christ has dark thoughts is not something we like to consider\u201d, Sweeney stated. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9881,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1574,7,1588],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness","category-news","category-united-kingdom-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9880"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9950,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9880\/revisions\/9950"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}