8 Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
Philippians 4:8
Do you ever find yourself feeling stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts? Do you battle with your own mind and find yourself unhappy most of the time? You can change. Really! You can transform your life by simply shifting your mindset from negative thinking to positive thinking. Ok, so it is not that simple. It takes effort but I assure you, you can do it!
Negative thinking is not just a bad habit, it will stop you from living the life you dream of. It is a barrier to every good thing that you desire. It can influence your self-worth and how you interact with the world. Your negative self-talk is weighty. It is not just a voice that echoes in your mind, what you think will dictate your behavior. It throws shade on every experience and puts limits on what you can accomplish. Your inner critic makes mountains out of molehills, a song and dance out of nothing, and curbs opportunities because you see them as insurmountable challenges.
Just so you know, your negative thinking does not just affect you. Your spouse, your children, your friends, and siblings – yeah, it affects every relationship. Your cloudy perspective can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings. It creates a haze of gloom around everyone you connect with. Eventually, people will begin to avoid you and it will cause you to feel isolated, spiraling you into more negativity.
It's not just your mind and relationships that are affected, according to the University of Minnesota, negative thinking also impacts your health. High stress levels, increased heart rate and blood pressure and a compromised immune system can all result from negative thinking. When you understand this, you have taken the first step toward your liberation. Your health is wealth.
God has given us an effective strategy for managing our thinking so that we can live our lives filled with optimism, resilience, and a sense of fulfillment. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think on things that are lovely, honorable, worthy of respect, etc.
Positive, godly thinking produces the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.).
Are you still not convinced? When we harness the power of positive thinking, our brains begin to operate differently. The neural pathways associated with optimism and resilience become strengthened. Just like a muscle grows with exercise, these pathways grow stronger with consistent practice of positive thinking. This neurological transformation can lead to an increase in the production of feel-good hormones such as serotonin and dopamine, which elevate our mood and can counteract the effects of stress.
So, if you are struggling with negative thoughts, you are probably wondering what to do. The first step to transformation is to develop a greater sense of self-awareness. Pay attention to your self-talk. Your inner dialogue shapes how you see yourself and the world around you. There is no need for judgment or condemnation, just become aware of the patterns that lead to a negative mindset. For example, choosing to look at the dreadful things that may happen over choosing to think of the good things that may come from any situation. Then after identifying the patterns, you must consciously choose to challenge them and reframe them.
Second, incorporate positive affirmations into your day. The mind-mouth connection is powerful. Science refers to it as neuro-linguistic programming and it can help shift the focus from all that is wrong and could go wrong to what is positive and possible. Of course, you will not have an overnight transformation, but practice, persistence, and patience will reward you with a life that allows you to navigate and appreciate all its complexities and change the trajectory of your life. There are so many possibilities awaiting you!
Transforming your mindset will not only shift your perspective, but it will also change your reality. There is a God given strategy for changing your mindset that can have an incredible impact on every aspect of your life – relationships, career, and your mental and physical wellbeing. If you want to learn more about how God empowers our thinking, leave your IG handle in the comments or HMU at info@revisionwomen.com. Girl, you gotta’ change your mind!
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