I Woke Up Breathing…That’s a Good Start
Wellness blog
by Rev. Alan Shaw
I attended a training a few years ago provided by Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety Culture. Their goal is to improve health and safety by empowering people to reframe negative messaging into something positive. For example, a campaign on drinking and driving suggested shifting from a deficit’s based approach (i.e. “Don’t drive and drive – you could be killed or arrested”) to a positive culture approach that builds on shared values and beliefs (i.e. “Most of us care about our friends and choose safe rides home”). It worked.
It’s no secret that the world often feels heavy with negativity—news cycles filled with conflict or personal challenges that weigh us down. In moments like these, reframing our circumstances becomes not just helpful, but essential. Reframing is looking at the same situation from a different perspective and Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to reframe by intentionally choosing to see life through a more positive framework.
Oftentimes, someone at church will ask how I’m doing. I generally respond with “I woke up breathing, so that is a pretty good start”. I could have forgotten to set an alarm, missed breakfast and had a flat tire on the way to church, but I woke up breathing and that means God’s not done with me yet. Reframing doesn’t deny hardship or pretend difficulties don’t exist. Instead, it asks: “Where is God at work here? What blessings remain even in the midst of struggle”? This shift in perspective allows us to move from despair to hope, from complaint to gratitude, and from fear to faith.
Gods tells us in 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…”. Notice it doesn’t say for all circumstances, but in them. Gratitude doesn’t erase pain, it anchors us in God’s goodness. Gratitude shifts our focus from what is lacking to what is abundant, and that shift can change how we live. When we choose to see life through a lens of gratitude and blessing, our behavior naturally changes: We become more resilient. Challenges no longer define us; they refine us; We grow in compassion. Seeing God’s blessings makes us more eager to share them with others; We cultivate hope. A positive framework reminds us that God’s story is bigger than our present struggles.
Over time, this practice reshapes our worldview. Instead of seeing a world dominated by negativity, we begin to see a world infused with grace. Instead of despairing over brokenness, we recognize opportunities for healing and service. Instead of being consumed by fear, we live with confidence in God’s promises. This Thanksgiving, I invite you to pause and reframe. Before listing what is wrong, list what is right. Before dwelling on what is missing, celebrate what is present. Before focusing on the darkness, remember the light of Christ that shines in every circumstance. Do you need some help exploring how to reframe aspects of your life? Reach out to your SED network of coaches today.
Rev Alan Shaw is an Assistant Pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Cary, NC and a part-time Transitional Interim Minister at Peace Lutheran Church in Goldsboro, NC. He is a retired Army officer and serves as a resource for the SED and LCMS with Christian Conciliation training, workshops, and reconciliation cases. He can be reached at alan@restoringharmonyllc.com.
