The Healthy Spiritual Journey • August 2026: Changing Our View of the World

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“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” – Norman Vincent Peale

There are moments in our lives when life feels heavy. Responsibilities pile up. We may awaken some mornings feeling unrested, worrying about the projects that lay ahead. Even the routines we once enjoyed can feel burdensome. Taking time away is seldom the answer, because the problems we leave behind will still be there when we return. There are certainly many reasons to take vacations. But we should go on vacation because we want to – not because we think that we have to in order to change our situation! When distress or burnout knocks on our door, we must find positive ways to cope. This is not about ignoring challenges. It is about viewing those challenges as opportunities and seeking positive ways to deal with them in real time. We can start by changing our view of the world.

One powerful way to change our world view is through an attitude of gratitude. This is not merely a pleasant idea, but a spiritual discipline that reshapes the way we interpret our lives. When we intentionally notice the blessings God has woven into our days, the feelings of gratitude can be really uplifting. Our great cloud of witnesses, family, friends, shelter, sunrises, sunsets, flowers, laughter - the list goes on – these gifts are reminders that God’s goodness surrounds us even when life feels difficult. Practicing gratitude does not erase hardship, but it does illuminate hope – one of God’s greatest gifts for changing our view of the world.

We can show gratitude for the gifts that we have been given by sharing those gifts with others and by serving others. Service is one of the most significant ways that we can show love for our neighbor. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. captured this beautifully: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” Compassion and service go hand-in-hand since compassion is recognizing the suffering of others and then taking action to help. When we move beyond our own needs and look to the needs of others, we are changing our view of the world.

During the July 2026 Joy & Wholeness Summit, sponsored by the Coalition for Physician & APP Well-Being, Dr. Stephen Trzeciak introduced his latest book, Wonder Drug, which explores how serving others with compassion can improve not only their well-being but ours as well. His research shows that while kindness is a moral virtue, it is also a transformative force that strengthens emotional resilience, deepens connection, and enhances our overall health. When we choose compassion, we participate in God’s healing work and continue changing our view of the world. 

Changing our view of the world does not require changing our lives. Sometimes it simply requires changing our spiritual selves through prayer, gratitude, service, compassion, and trust in God’s steady presence. When we shift our inner landscape, the outer world begins to look different too – and in that sacred shift, we discover that God has been offering us rest, renewal, and hope all along. 

In God’s love,

Lanny F. Wilson, MD

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28