Redirect a negative thought into a positive one
" … be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind."
- Ephesians 4:23 (AMP)
What are you thinking about today? Did you notice your thoughts? Or did you just follow along with anything that dropped into your head?
From the first thought each morning until our last thought at night, our thoughts shape our actions. The more we go over a thought rolling around in our minds, the more we are likely to follow that thought with an action.
For good or evil, our thoughts are the foundation for the behaviors we display. We don't always realize that. If we really take a conscious look at what we are thinking before we get angry, sad or glad, we will see it all started with a thought.
God gave us free will and, along with that, is the ability to choose our thoughts. Many factors influence our thinking. It is affected by things that have been spoken to us. Positive or negative words from a parent, sibling, friend, teacher or peer and anyone else in our lives can have a positive or negative affect on our thought life.
Our environment can also affect the way we perceive something. What we watch on TV and listen to have an affect on our minds. Fears and phobias can be formed from opening the doors of our minds through things like horror movies or telling scary stories. Dwelling on negativity too long can start us on a downward spiral and depress our thoughts and emotions.
When we pray not to be led into evil temptations, we need to remember temptations first start in our minds. God is willing to strengthen us and help guide and direct our thoughts through positive ideas.
The Bible is filled with positive ways to think. Prayer summons the supernatural help of God to change our negative thoughts to positive.
Jesus warned us that our thoughts affect our actions. He used the example that adultery first starts in our minds. "But I say unto you that whosoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." He was saying a man's thoughts turn to action.
God doesn't want us to be hard on ourselves regarding wrong thoughts, rather to be aware of them. Thoughts come into our minds from many different sources. It would be near impossible to never have a negative thought.
But, with God's help, we can become more aware of what we think. As our awareness increases, it can result in giving us a healthier perspective, resulting in a more peaceful and joyful attitude.
I've heard it said that our brain is like a muscle and that we should exercise it with good thoughts. Starting today, we can challenge ourselves to redirect one negative thought into a positive one that could give us a new outlook on life.
• Annettee Budzban is an author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She will be speaking Sept. 28 at the Women's Fall Gathering at Holy Cross Church in Cary. Women interested in attending should email Conventionchairman@lwmlnid.org for further information. Annettee is available to speak to your church group, business, civic organization or be your personal life coach. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.