Don't Believe Everything You Think

This phrase – “Don’t Believe Everything You Think” was on a sign beside a church in town.  Your thoughts can be all over the place.  Some are true while others are based on your fears, anxieties, what ifs, and what you create in your head from what you have seen and heard.  Thoughts can be quick, or they can linger in your head.  You can ruminate on them or quickly dismiss them as meaningless.  It is your choice.

It is learning to process your thoughts and discern what is true and what has wondered into your head that is just random.  Some thoughts are fleeting thoughts that need to just run right out of your head and never return.  Some thoughts are wild and crazy so just laugh at them and release them.

Sometimes your thoughts are focused on what you did wrong in the past and are filled with shame, guilt, and regret.  Your thoughts keep telling you that you are worthless, not good enough, and nobody wants to be around you or even cares about you.  The thoughts of what you did in the past may be true, but do not believe that your thoughts have to stay there.  Forgive yourself and change your thought focus to who you are becoming.  Yes, that was you, but do not believe your thoughts that you cannot change and move forward.  Do not define yourself by your negative thoughts.

You think nobody cares.  You think nobody likes you, and everybody is talking about you.  The reality is people are more focused on themselves than on you.  Your thoughts are miscommunicating with reality.  When you see someone and they give you a strange look, your thoughts assume they are judging you.  Your thoughts can create quite a story and make you believe it is true.

Learn to stop your thoughts before they start to control your actions and behaviors.  When a thought comes into your mind, quickly evaluate it.  Does it have purpose and value and is it positive, or is it negative and pulls you down?  Release the negative thoughts by telling yourself there is no room in your head for negativity and give them to God.  Center yourself on what is good and healthy not just in your eating, reading, watching but in your thinking.

When your thoughts go down the “rabbit hole” of fear and create scenarios of what could happen, you begin to believe the thoughts and work yourself up with anxiety and fear.  Stop blocking is a way to stop your thoughts.  Picture in your head an actual “road closed” sign.  You cannot go down this thought road.  So, you stop your thoughts before you begin to develop them into a full situation that has not and probably will not actually happen.

Begin your day with positive words that comes from Scripture, a book, or positive statements you found on Facebook or Pinterest.  When those negative thoughts come into your head – speak these positive words to dispel and stop the direction of your thoughts.

Remind yourself what is true.  You are forgiven and loved.  Remind yourself what you are assuming in your head has no evidence of being true.  Learn to stop your thoughts by bringing yourself into the present moment and not letting your thoughts run free down an unknown road.  Talk to yourself.  Do a physical task to change your focus.  Sing or listen to a song to give your thoughts a different beat.

Thoughts can come randomly into your head.  You have control on where you linger and what you dismiss and release.  Your thoughts control your behavior and attitude.  Think about what is good, right and true.

Elaine J. Sturtz

Living In The Different

Elaine will be leading a seminar “Living Life Forward” at Trinity Evangelical Church on Saturday, March 21st from 9 am to 12 pm. Mark your calendars now.  It is free.  Just call the church to register.