How to create a new way of Thinking
Do you ever find yourself telling the same stories to yourself time and again, creating the same frustrating outcomes in your relationships? There is hope for doing this differently and showing up in your relationships in a new, healthy way. It has a lot to do with how we think about our situations and how we view ourselves and those around us.
Resiliency: The ability to bounce back from a setback to a place of thriving and growing in the face of adverse situations and challenges.
The mind plays a key role in whether someone is able to be resilient or not. Everything begins with a thought and resilient people think differently.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We take captive every thought” and make it line up with the teachings in scripture. Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart so is he”
Resiliency and how to transform our minds
Pain and challenge are inevitable and a part of life, but suffering is a choice because suffering happens in our minds.
When we ruminate on a situation and loop a negative narrative in our mind and imagine the worst-case scenarios, we create neural pathways that make it that much easier to loop over and over the same negativity again and again.
God can renew our hearts and transform our thoughts to reflect his nature
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
Mindfulness and a Healthy Thought Life
It’s not just time passing that heals wounds and trauma, it’s repeated experiences and practices that change us and help us grow new neural pathways for healing. And ultimately it’s the healing power of the holy spirit in our lives that make the greatest impact.
What we Practice grows Stronger! So be careful about what narratives occupy your thoughts
The three best ways to be mindful
With Intention: your why, your compass, and your reason
With Attention: giving significant resources to what’s important in the present moment
Attitude: how we pay attention is critical and research has shown it’s best to pay attention with kindness, openness, and curiosity toward ourselves and others
Here are some questions to ponder
Are you focused on what’s going wrong in your life or what’s going right? We can think about both, but which of these occupies the most mental energy?
2. If you were to write a story about yourself right now, what would it say?
3. Does this narrative empower or dis-empower you?
4. What is adding value to your life right now?
Scripture Inspiration
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
