One of the challenges church staff often face within their roles is the “negativity instinct"—a tendency to focus on what's wrong rather than celebrating what's going well. This perspective can hinder our growth, dampen our spirit, and prevent us from fully acknowledging all the ways in which our ministry is thriving.
As discussed in our recent episode of the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, the negativity instinct is our inclination to believe that things are getting worse, even when facts suggest otherwise. Whether it's declining church attendance, financial struggle, or the ceaseless pressure to do more with less, church staff can easily get caught in a vicious cycle of negativity.
However, by giving in to this instinct, we risk missing out on the joy of celebrating small victories and recognizing God's work in our midst. Moreover, it can lead to burnout and a feeling of hopelessness.
In "Factfulness," Hans Rosling provides practical strategies to combat this negativity instinct. He advises us to expect the bad news and actively seek out good news that promotes hope and progress.
Within a church context, this means we should actively focus on the positive—celebrate when lives are transformed, commend the strides our ministry is making, and share these stories of hope and transformation with others. By purposefully tracking and celebrating our accomplishments, we can help shift our mindset from an instinctual focus on negativity to an intentional focus on growth and transformation.
Here are some steps I recommend taking to challenge your own negativity instinct:
By resisting the negativity instinct and choosing to celebrate our small and large victories, we empower ourselves and our church communities. Our God is a God of hope and transformation, and we can choose to focus on His faithfulness and goodness in all situations.
For more in-depth discussion on overcoming the negativity instinct and fostering hope within your church community, tune into today's Healthy Church Staff Podcast episode.