多年前的一首歌抱怨著說：「如果不是因為壞運氣，我根本沒有任何運氣可言。」這些日子以來，我們可以觀察到類似的情況：如果不是因為壞消息，我們根本就沒有任何消息。我們根本不需要被提醒疫情帶來的負面影響，因為大眾媒體似乎熱衷於 COVID-19 死亡的報導，以及無數因感染該病毒而住院的病例。令人熟悉的新聞口號：「見到血，才能見頭條」已經佔據了新聞的舞台。

但這並不是造成我們所處負面環境的唯一原因。在世界許多地方，經濟動盪不安掌控著一切。普通商品的供應短缺，讓我們許多人感到沮喪。世界多個地區的戰爭威脅引發了高度的焦慮。暴力事件、自殺、吸毒和家庭衝突不斷在增加，更多負面消息還在持續上演中。

陷入巨大絕望的誘惑很大，不斷傳來的壞消息讓我們相信所有的希望都已經破滅。這樣的誘惑無法帶來積極的結果，那麼我們該如何避免呢？

領導力顧問提姆·凱特 (Tim Kight) 最近看到直接與此有關的問題。他說：「如果沉湎於負面情緒裡，你只會助長自己的挫敗感或恐懼感，這會導致錯誤的決定，讓你更加焦慮、憤怒或害怕。這是一個『厄運循環』。請你按下暫停鍵並中斷『厄運循環』，將你的注意力從負面消極轉向正面積極。」

你是否陷入了負面循環，或者如凱特所說的『厄運循環』？負面消息的確在一定程度上影響了我們所有人，但有一些方法可以避免專注在這些源源不斷的壞消息。我們在聖經中找到以下合理的教導：

培養健康的心態。我們可以讓自己的心思意念被源源不斷的壞消息和訊息所消耗，或者我們可以有意識地決定把注意力放在更積極、更有果效的事情。「不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為　神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。」（羅馬書 12章2節）

專注於正面積極、令人振奮的事情。有人說，你不能阻止鳥兒從你頭上飛過，但你絕對可以阻止牠們在你的頭上築巢。「弟兄們，我還有未盡的話：凡是真實的、可敬的、公義的、清潔的、可愛的、有美名的，若有甚麼德行，若有甚麼稱讚，這些事你們都要思念。」（腓立比書 4章8節）

拒絕沉湎於邪惡和負面的想法。我們生活在一個資訊爆炸的時代，我們所看到和聽到的許多消息可能是破壞性的，而不是有益和令人振奮的。我們可以選擇趕除無益的想法和觀念。「但要凡事察驗；善美的要持守，各樣的惡事要禁戒不作。」（帖撒羅尼迦前書 5章21-22節）

選擇信心而不是懷疑。即使環境看起來很暗淡，請相信上帝能引導我們走向希望，熱切的期待，有信心的面對挫折。「信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。」(希伯來書 11章1節)

© 2022. Robert J. Tamasy 撰寫了《職場大使：CBMC的持續性傳統-傳福音及門徒訓練》；《企業巔峰：給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧》；與Ken Johnson合著《用牧羊人的心追求生活》；與 David A. Stoddard 合著《導師之心》。他的雙週部落格是：www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com。

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考以下的經文：

詩篇 23篇1-6節
23:1 耶和華是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。
23:2 他使我躺臥在青草地上，領我在可安歇的水邊。
23:3 他使我的靈魂甦醒，為自己的名引導我走義路。
23:4 我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因為你與我同在；你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我。
23:5 在我敵人面前，你為我擺設筵席；你用油膏了我的頭，使我的福杯滿溢。
23:6 我一生一世必有恩惠慈愛隨著我；我且要住在耶和華的殿中，直到永遠。
詩篇100篇1-5節
100:1 普天下當向耶和華歡呼！
100:2 你們當樂意事奉耶和華，當來向他歌唱！
100:3 你們當曉得耶和華是　神！我們是他造的，也是屬他的；我們是他的民，也是他草場的羊。
100:4 當稱謝進入他的門；當讚美進入他的院。當感謝他，稱頌他的名！
100:5 因為耶和華本為善。他的慈愛存到永遠；他的信實直到萬代。
箴言 12章25節
12:25 人心憂慮，屈而不伸；一句良言，使心歡樂。
箴言16章24節
16:24 良言如同蜂房，使心覺甘甜，使骨得醫治。
箴言25章25節
25:25 有好消息從遠方來，就如拿涼水給口渴的人喝。
羅馬書 8章28節
8:28 我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛　神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。
哥林多前書 13章4-7節
13:4 愛是恆久忍耐，又有恩慈；愛是不嫉妒；愛是不自誇，不張狂，
13:5 不做害羞的事，不求自己的益處，不輕易發怒，不計算人的惡，
13:6 不喜歡不義，只喜歡真理；
13:7 凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。

反省與問題討論

1. 你是如何處理不斷轟炸的負面及令人不安的新聞呢？
2. 你認為允許自己沉湎於負面情緒會使我們陷入「厄運循環」－導致沮喪、恐懼、憤怒和錯誤決定的負面循環嗎，對此你怎麼看呢？
3. 我們可以透過什麼方式來對抗我們長期生活在其中的負面環境呢？我們如何培養健康、積極的心態來引導自己的行動和日常決策呢？
4. 你是否同意，對上帝以及相信祂在一切事上掌權，這樣真摯的、有根基的信仰，可以幫助我們克服令人困擾的負面循環嗎？為什麼？在極度灰心和絕望的時候，信靠上帝會有什麼挑戰呢？

CAUGHT IN THE LOOP OF NEGATIVITY?RAYER?

By Robert J. Tamasy

A song from years ago complained, “If it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.” These days, we could make a similar observation that if it wasn’t for bad news, we wouldn’t have any news at all. We don’t need to be reminded about the negativity spawned by the global pandemic. The mass media have seemed to revel in reports of deaths due to COVID-19, along with the countless cases of people being hospitalized with the virus. The old news mantra, “If it bleeds, it leads,” has taken center stage.

But that has not been the only cause of the negative environment in which we live. In many parts of the world, economic turmoil has reigned. Supply shortages of common goods have frustrated many of us. Threats of war in several parts of the world have created high anxiety. Violence is on the increase, as are suicides, drug abuse, and domestic strife. The list goes on.

The temptation is great to plunge into great despair, with the constant barrage of bad news causing us to believe that all hope is gone. But this temptation offers no positive outcome. So, how can we avoid it?

Leadership consultant Tim Kight recently seen that applies directly to this question. He said, “If you dwell on the negative, you simply feed your frustration or fear, which leads to bad decisions, which causes you to be even more anxious, angry, or afraid. It is a ‘doom loop.’ Press pause and interrupt the doom loop. Redirect your focus from the negative to the productive.”

Have you become caught up in a loop of negativity, or as Kight terms it, the “doom loop”? It has affected all of us to some extent, but there are ways of avoiding concentrating on the endless stream of bad news. We find sound advice in the Scriptures:

Develop a healthy mindset. We can allow our minds to become consumed by the continual stream of bad news and information, or we can make the conscious decision to focus on more positive, productive things. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Concentrate on positive, uplifting things. It has been said that you cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Refuse to dwell on evil and negative ideas. We live in an information age, and much of the information we see and hear can be destructive, rather than helpful and uplifting. We can choose to cast aside counterproductive thoughts and ideas. “Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

Choose faith rather than doubt. Even when circumstances look bleak, trusting in God can direct us to hope, a sense of earnest expectation and confident assurance in the face of discouragement. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

© 2022. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; andThe Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How have you been dealing with the constant bombardment of negative, unsettling news?
2. What do you think of the observation that allowing ourselves to dwell on the negative can put us into a “doom loop,” a loop of negativity that leads to frustration, fear, anger, and bad decisions?
3.  In what ways can we combat the negative environment in which we have been living for so long? How can we cultivate a healthy, positive mindset to guide our actions and everyday decision-making?
4. Do you agree that a sincere, well-grounded faith in God, in His sovereignty and divine control over all circumstances, can enable us to overcome the loop of negativity that seems to plague so many people? Why or why not? What are challenges to trusting God in times of great discouragement and despair?   

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 23:1-6, 100:1-5; Proverbs 12:25,16:24, 25:25; Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

相關（靈修文章）：

• 週一嗎哪
• 讀經日引
• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
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