My family’s flights to the Feast of Tabernacles in Oregon were not going smoothly. Touchdown in Houston felt like it had left a two-foot hole in the ground. Arrival in St. Louis was also quite jolting.

Out of frustration, I declared to my wife: “Those were the worst two landings that I’ve ever experienced! I guess none of their pilots know how to land.”

She replied immediately: “You know, that’s not very positive.” She was right. How easy is it to take something tiny and magnify it in our minds until we turn sour? This brings other people down. Perhaps they might start making negative comments too. Just one sentence can initiate a downward spiral of negativity.

If we are striving to become perfect just like God our Father (Matthew 5:48), then consider this: “Is God discouraged? Joyless? Negative? Never!” Gerald Flurry wrote that in The Last Hour. God is always positive. He always views situations with the proper perspective.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Philippians 2:14). Our words are a result of our thinking. Positive thinking leads to positive words. Negative thoughts and words are not from God. To live more like God, stop complaining.

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke [so that no one can criticize you—being negative opens us up to criticism], in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (verse 15). The world around us is full of murmuring. Our positive outlook stands out—in a good way.

Imagine if no one ever complained—not me, not you, not your friends, nor anyone else. The whole world would be so much happier!

God wants us to be lights to the world, people who influence others to live the same way God does. In The Former Prophets, Mr. Flurry contrasts two kings of ancient Israel: Saul and David. Saul was depressed and discouraged. He needed a musician just to drive away his own negativity. David not only was positive, he also uplifted those around him.

“God used David to lift Saul’s spirit,” Mr. Flurry writes, “There is a lesson here too. Clearly we must learn to control our own emotions and stay positive. But if you’re going to be royalty for God, you must also learn to be encouraging to other people. That’s what a leader does. Are you an encouraging person to be around? …

“Think about this. If you’re going to help Jesus Christ rule in the World Tomorrow, you must be living by these laws. You must be a person who has a positive impact on other people. If you are, you can be a great encouragement to them!” Note the use of the word “must” in that quote.

Examine how your words and actions affect others—whether your influence is generally more positive or negative. Aim to become known as a happy, joyous teenager, someone who finds the best in every situation. What an impact you will make!

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Edifying words are an incredible way we can serve others.

In this verse, “that it may minister grace unto the hearers” is rendered in the New Living Translation as “so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” That’s how God wants us to live and impact others! The source of our encouragement is the hope of the gospel—understanding that God is about to transform the Earth into a utopia!

My negative attitude during our trip to the Feast began to go south before we even boarded. When I realized that we had two layovers before reaching our destination, I started thinking about how long the trip would be.

When we find ourselves heading down a negative path, we must stop immediately. It can be done! As Mr. Flurry said, leaders for God control their own emotions and stay positive.

It has been said that we make our own weather. We determine if our day is figuratively cloudy and gloomy or sunny and cheery. On the way to Oregon, I should have realized that there was nothing I could do to change the situation anyway—so why dwell on it? I was only making myself unhappy and sharing that unhappiness with my family.

In that statement from The Former Prophets, Mr. Flurry also stresses the importance of encouraging others. All of us have been encouraged before. We all appreciate being encouraged. We must make a positive impact on others because this builds family—both physical and spiritual. Helping others be positive makes us more positive too.

Search for opportunities to encourage. Make it a goal. Any time you are around other people, you can encourage! This includes your parents. Recognize these opportunities and take advantage. Work to build a reputation as an encourager.

My wife halted my negativity on the plane by nicely stating a fact, and I’m thankful she did. Strive to always be positive. The more you do this, the more you will influence others to be positive—to be more like God.