Joyful spirits and grateful hearts

Have you ever been on a road trip with your family and played a game counting red cars? Isn’t it so interesting that as soon as somebody names a color of car to look for, that color of car is suddenly everywhere! This is due to an event called the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. To put this complex sounding event into simple terms, the BMP is a frequency bias. Once something is brought to our attention, there is a tendency to notice it more often, leading us to believe that whatever it is occurs quite frequently. However, the most important thing to note from this phenomenon is that the probability of the event occurring never changed. There are still the same number of red cars on the road after you name the color as before, our perception just changes and we become more AWARE of those red cars than we were before.

We see this occur in our everyday lives. I remember one day not so long ago, one of my friends said something to me that really irritated me. After that, I stubbed my toe, hard, and then I got a not so good grade on a math test, and at swim practice I was tired, and everything hurt, and my coach yelled at me to work harder--and on and on. It started with one bad thing, and then I was in such a bad mood that all I noticed from that moment on throughout the day were the bad things, and pretty soon I was spiraling into negativity and anger. Ladies and gentlemen, the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon strikes again!

What if instead of letting what my friend say to me affect me, I had let it roll off my back and just continued like normal? That stubbed toe? Just an accident. That bad test score? I can do retakes, it’ll be ok. A hard swim practice with a demanding coach? This is chance for me to show how strong I am. If I had followed that line of thinking, I would have spiraled up into a positive headspace, and instead of going to bed frustrated, I would’ve gone to bed feeling satisfied with my day.

Our attitude determines everything. I know, I know. This is something your mom has been telling you since you were a kid, and now it’s just cringey to hear, but I – a 17-year-old with very little life experience – can tell you right now that it is true. In fact, it is so true that our Savior Himself, Jesus Christ, commanded us to be cheerful and always give thanks. 1 Thessalonians: 16-18 states, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Like the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon describes, when you look at your life with gratitude, you become more aware of all the ways you have been blessed. When you look for ways to serve, your find opportunities to love those around you that were right in front of you. When you look for ways to reflect the light of Christ, you start to glow brighter and brighter. Your thoughts become your actions, which become your habits, which become your lifestyle. Pray without ceasing for God to open your eyes, then be ready to act because He will shower you with opportunities.

I’m sure that going into this holiday season, you are already becoming more aware of ways you can show your gratitude. But I challenge you to continue in that spirit of thanksgiving and service and love even after the turkey leftovers are gone, the Christmas trees are put away, and we start to endure the misery of Alaskan Januarys. Maya Angelou said, “A joyful spirit is evidence of a grateful heart.” I promise that as we continue to look for the good in our day to day lives, our own capacity for joy and peace will grow.

Avery Palenske is an early Christmas advocate and tries every year to convince her mother to put up the decorations on November 1st (this year it was November 8th). An enthusiastic language learner, she is currently despairing over Korean formality conjugations and French in general. But she knows that she can always find peace in Jesus Christ, and loves being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.