你如何開始新的一天？

若你落在這方程式的負面那一方，可能有許多原因：你面臨的最後期限可能讓你不知所措；你可能要面對與上司或同事的衝突；你可能無法勝任你被要求去做的任務；或者你做那職務已有一段很長的時間，工作變得乏味且一成不變，使你覺得無聊、沒有得到激勵，而不是熱切且衝勁十足。

你可能還會想出其他不喜歡工作的原因，但你自己的心態可能是一個主要的因素：也就是你讓你自己面對工作和職場的態度。雖然我們無法改變我們的環境，但我們能夠選擇面對我們環境的態度。

我不是「強調正向思考力量」的人，但我是屬於正向信仰的人。這就是為什麼我喜歡這樣開始每一天──有時在我起床之前──默誦我喜歡的一節經文：「這是耶和華所定的日子，我們在其中要高興歡喜！」（詩篇118篇24節）。若我真的相信上帝會給我新的一天，充滿機會，新的經驗和遇到意料之外的人事物，我就能帶著樂觀和期待去面對每一天。

大部份的日子不會如同我所預期。一位朋友意外地打電話來或寄來電子郵件，使我們有了一段有意義的互動。某位不知從哪裡冒出來的人突然聯絡我，問我是否有興趣寫一篇文章或作一個編輯企劃，這完全在我計畫之外。我開始做某項任務，但必須把我的焦點轉移到另一件事；然後我發覺我原先的任務並非如我所想的那麼緊急，所以我可以把它延後到另外一天。

大約六年前，在我成功地作完開心臟手術後，我決定要將每個新的一天都視為一個「禮物」。經歷了一次像開心手術的重大事件後，讓我對沒有人能保證有明天的事實印象更深刻。所以雖然我承認每一天不一定愉快或輕鬆，但若上帝把那一天賜給我，一定有祂的好理由，因此不論那一天會帶來什麼，我都期待它的到來。

以下是聖經中的一些原則，教導我們考慮如何開始新的一天：

把每一天視為一個機會而不是一個負擔。如諺語所說：「我們的日子屈指可數屈。」所以我們應該感謝我們所擁有的，並智慧地善用所賜給我們的時間。「求你指教我們怎樣數算自己的日子，好叫我們得著智慧的心」（詩篇90篇12節）。

在這一天過去之前，善用這一天。我們每一個人都有的東西是時間。我們無法把今天存起來留待將來再用。一旦這個小時過去，它就永遠走了，所以我們應該考慮如何把這個小時作最好的運用。「你們要謹慎行事，不要像愚昧人，當像智慧人。要愛惜光陰，因為現今的世代邪惡」（以弗所書5章15-16節）。

勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他也是一個有40年經驗的退休新聞工作者。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）。他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring）。要了解更多資訊, 可上網www.leaderslegacy.com 或上他的部落格www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com以及www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com 。

If you fall on the negative side of this equation, there could be many reasons: Deadlines you face might seem overwhelming; you could be facing serious conflict with superiors or coworkers; you may not be a good match for the work you are asked to perform; or the job you have held for a long time could have grown tedious and routine, causing you to feel bored and uninspired rather than eager and energized.

Other reasons for disliking work might come to mind, but your mind itself could be a primary factor: the attitude you allow yourself to have toward your work and your workplace. Even though we cannot always change our circumstances, we can choose our attitudes toward our circumstances.

I am not a “power of positive thinking” person – but I am a person who ascribes to positive believing. This is why I like to start each day – sometimes before I get out of bed – by silently repeating a favorite verse from the Bible: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). If I truly believe that, that God has seen fit to give me a new day, filled with opportunity, new experiences and unexpected encounters, I can approach it with optimism and expectation.

Most days never turn out exactly as I have anticipated. A friend I did not expect to hear from gives me a call or sends an email, leading to meaningful interaction. Out of the blue someone contacts me and asks if I would be interested in a new writing or editing project; something totally off my planning grid. I start working on one task but must shift my focus onto something else, and then I realize the original task was not as urgent as I had thought, so I could postpone it for another day.

Nearly six years ago, after successfully coming through open-heart surgery, I determined to regard each new day as a “gift.” Not one of us has tomorrow guaranteed, but surviving a major event like that has a way of impressing that reality on you. So while I recognize not every day will be enjoyable or easy, if God has given it to me, there must be a good reason – and I can look forward to whatever the day presents.

Here are principles from the Scriptures to consider when embarking on a new day:

Regard each day as an opportunity, not an imposition. As the saying goes, “our days are numbered.” So we should appreciate what we have and make good, wise use of the time give to us. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

Redeem the day before it is lost. The one commodity we all have in common is time. And we cannot save it for use on another day. Once an hour has passed, it is gone forever, so we should consider how to use it for greatest advantage. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist, he has written Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.