The mind is such a fascinating and complex part of our brain, almost as vital as the heart, but with a lot more attitude.
Our minds are our greatest weapon. Used wisely, they can foster positive emotions like courage, boldness, a can-do attitude and most importantly, the fruit of the Spirit by claiming the mind of Christ. However, the mind can also be a double-edged sword; if left to wander unchecked, it can be your biggest critic, chipping away at your self-esteem, confidence, and beliefs until one day you find yourself a shadow of who you once were, wondering how you got there.
In my 30-something years of living, (yes, I’ve earned those two strands of grey hair), I’ve learned that the “realities” we face aren’t always based on facts. Sometimes, our minds play the role of overzealous screenwriters, spinning tales out of our past experiences, perspectives, and what-if scenarios. It’s no surprise that there’s a little writer in each of us.
Allowing false narratives to ruminate in your mind until they start running on autopilot is dangerous territory. I’ve been there. Unlearning this toxic trait has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. It’s like inviting a guest over who then decides to stay indefinitely. We all know those guests who take that “make yourself at home” a step too far by finishing all your food and drinks. (And yes, I’ve been that guest, don’t judge me!) That’s how the mind works. Once a negative thought sneaks in, if you don’t immediately kick it out, it makes itself at home, and invites its friends- anger, frustration, depression, resentment, etc, to enjoy the hospitality you have so graciously provided. The reverse is also true. The day I learned I could act my way into a positive emotion was a game changer.
Over the past few months, I’ve learned that just as emotions can lead to certain actions, I can also act my way into certain emotions. Let me explain. When my mind fixates on something negative, the outcome of that mindset can enslave me, leaving me with a bad attitude or belief. However, I’m learning to find a way out of that state of mind. Lately, that involves intentionally acting in ways that bring me joy and peace. I start by asking the Holy Spirit to control my mind, then I listen to my favourite gospel songs and do things that spark joy, like calling a friend or watching a funny video. Knowing I have the power to change my emotions has been a lifesaver, and I’m incredibly grateful for the great work the Holy Spirit is doing within me. Shoutout to You G!
Taking control of my thoughts and the stories I tell myself has been incredibly rewarding. I sometimes experience anxiety; the heart racing, sweat inducing kind that makes you want to disappear when addressing a large group of people or being the center of attention. I used to hate, no, detest those situations. If you’ve been following my public journal (aka these posts), you know a bit about my formative years. Those were the years when I perfected the art of being invisible.
To tackle these anxiety attacks, an older friend suggested we get to the root cause of my fears. Turns out, I was terrified of saying the wrong thing, no matter how prepared I was. His advice? Tell myself daily that I love people, that I’m excited to speak to them and that I’m a master at what I do. He said, “These people are eagerly waiting to hear what you have to say!” When I asked him if this was a way to psych myself up, he responded that it wasn’t, these affirmations needed to be rooted in truth, not make-believe. He even had me recall all the times I’d received feedback after a speaking engagement. Funny thing, I never once heard the criticisms my mind liked to rehearse. So, what was fuelling those negative thoughts? His bonus tip was to be thoroughly prepared- dot your I’s and cross your T’s, and rehearse your opening points until they become muscle memory. If lack of preparation isn’t the issue for you, as it wasn’t for me, then the other tips will apply.
I realised that our minds are like stubborn software – they keep running the same old program unless you override it with new, truthful data. As a child, I had thoughts like, “Do you really believe God exists?” But as I grew older and experienced God for myself, those thoughts disappeared because I knew for a fact that God exists. It’s almost as if my mind gave up on feeding me those lies. However, the thoughts evolved into “Will God really do all the things He said He would?” Can you see how slick the enemy is with his tactics? Sometimes he uses “I” in the first person when planting these thoughts, making it seem like they’re your own when it’s really his.
The key is to channel negative thoughts into something positive, especially by focusing on what God says about you and how you want to show up for yourself and others. Write these truths down if you have to, so you can always remind yourself of who you are.
Just as no one plans an outdoor wedding during raining season without adequate resources and contingencies, you need a system for when your mind starts wandering. Simply wishing those thoughts away won’t suffice!
Fully partnering with God and believing everything He says about you is essential, and anything that contradicts that is just noise you don’t need.
Bible study has been transformative for me. My goal is to deepen my relationship with God because, through Him, I keep uncovering new layers of myself.
We cannot afford to live in the futility of our thoughts. As always, I’m a work in progress, and so are you!
‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV