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Janet's Blog
Janet's Blog
Blog
Thoughts That Won't Shift - Things You Can Do
| Posted on 31 March, 2020 at 22:10 |
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How To Handle Sticky Thoughts Today, I'd like to share with you some research I did this week in addition to my writings on "Sticky Thoughts" They are a problem for many of us at sometime and maybe often or some. It's good to know what you can do with them. Part of my research was on a secular website and although the writer believes in a few iffy things (in a few of her articles) we do not subscribe to as Christians, she has a a few paragraphs I would like to use as a basis for part of what we're addressing here. I think she has considerable perception in this area, having experienced them for sometime and I would like to praise God for her article! So please note that lines of print in Italics here are from respective authors, not my own and the credit must be given to them. "We have a lot of emotion in these types of thoughts. Emotion creates an incredible pattern of association with the thoughts. When the thoughts come, we don’t recognize the thought itself, we go straight into feeling the way that thought has made us feel in the past." Feelings you had before repeat themselves, attaching to your present thoughts and can make the task of shifting these disturbing thoughts difficult – or complex. "We’re also telling the story of “this thought keeps coming back.” When I first noticed this, it was amazing! I was thinking a negative thought, then I was frustrated by the story that “that thought keeps coming back! Ugh! When will it be gone for good! This isn’t working!” Gently, the part of me (Presence) that watches those thoughts noticed that this was just another story. Whether it’s true right now or not, continuing to tell the story to yourself or anyone else will make it true." How to Un-Stick Icky Thoughts: "Turn it around. What I typically do is take the exact opposite of the thought and meditate on that for a moment. “I have a fast metabolism. I burn everything I eat!” “I have more than enough to pay my bills and I always have money left over each month!” Once you begin to turn around your thoughts, you’ll be truly astounded at how fast your life changes, too! Get excited about the fact that you’re changing the thought. We all used to be trapped by these thoughts, and not even realize we were thinking them! It is phenomenal how far we’ve come in this process. Now, I get so excited when I find a new thought to change, because I know I’m going to experience freedom in that area and a life change, sometimes profound. I love that! Tell yourself the story that your thoughts are more positive and present now. When you tell a new story, you make that story true for you and you reinforce it over and over. I make it true moment by moment, by not thinking in those old ways! I’m not bringing that old stuff into the present (and creating a negative future) – I’m creating a better life now." She also relates differently when conversing with others because she doesn't own those problems anymore. "The Nack Is: when you’re changing your thoughts, have fun with it. Be grateful you have the ability to change your thoughts. Be grateful you have that power! You can make Choices now – you can decide what you would like your brain to think about." (Crystal Pirri) Ponder on those. Meditate on Scriptures out loud and recall Good Memories - focus on those. Make it a habit to have Good Things you can think about on hand when you need better thinking material hey? DISCOVERIES BY NEUROSCIENTISTS Did you know that Neuroscientists have now discovered we can make New Pathways in our brain, if we work at it? This process is referred to as Neuroplasticiy. In other words, our brain patterns respond to reshaping (literally). Knowledge is Power when put into practice. Neuroscientists like Dr Caroline Leaf writes and speaks on this important discovery. She shows us how to go about it and has helped many people in her Practice, to transform their mind in a remarkable way. She also includes key-scriptures in the process. Ps Gregory Dickhow from Life Changers International, has a revolutionary program he pioneered called A 40 Day Fast From Wrong Thinking. It involves ditching a wrong thought each day and it's amazing which thoughts he has come up with for this program:) Both these wonderful Christians help us to detoxify unhealthy thinking and how to build healthy thought patterns for a peaceful and happier mind, with results very similar. These programs also complement each-other and go very well together. There's also another discovery: We have New Baby Brain Cells each morning when we wake up. Yes, every day we are greeted by a New Sunrise and new baby brain cells to nurture and look after. So every time the sun rises there is HOPE…….let the birds remind you of this when you hear them tweeting early in the morning. Picture a sandcastle with a moat around it. In order to change the water in that moat, you can channel a fresh supply of water into it. As the new comes in, the old will gradually be replaced and renewed. Same with our mindsets. There is a principle in this illustration: It is much easier to practice replacement than baling water out of the moat . And so it is with us. Do remember, Consistency is the Key Factor here…..so important! We are investing in a healthier happier thought-life. The more happy and positive content we can furnish our thoughts with, the healthier our mind becomes and we can start reaping the benefits of a kinder brain. ………………………………………………… "So many of us, however, believe that if we just keep doing what we’re doing, eventually something will change and life will just “get better” because we want it to." This is a real mistake that leads to sure disappointments and disillusion with life (or ourselves) can set in if this wishful mindset is left unchecked over a long time. So the earlier we take steps to correct this, we can be assured that benefits are on the way because each day becomes like stepping stones as we are enjoying this process. Practice Reaps Rewards Someone said “Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.” So keep moving on with your progress (little by little). Remember ”a rolling stone gathers no moss?” “Slowly but Surely” is a good saying to remember too. If we try to make changes in big chunks, it’s human nature that we cannot sustain them. "Our minds run rampant with thoughts, and until we begin the process of controlling our thinking, we're left at their mercy. The first step in controlling our thoughts is to notice what we're thinking. Until we can step aside and be the observer of our thoughts instead of actively caught up in thinking them, we can't begin to control them. Pay attention to thoughts and feelings that don't feel good. In the beginning, this may be a lot of thoughts. Don’t stress about how long this will take or how many thoughts don’t feel good, just begin slowly and notice the ones that make you feel uncomfortable. Note: Simply noticing the thoughts is a great leap on the road to Nirvana, since you’re separating yourself from them in a powerful way. Don't judge your thoughts. Our thoughts are not personal, they’re merely following the patterns of what we’ve allowed ourselves to think before. This is a process, and we must consciously choose to think better thoughts before better thoughts will come to us- but don’t judge. Just notice." (Crystal Pirri) Practice self-compassion and Ask yourself, “Is this thought necessary? What can I think that’s better?” Sticky Thoughts That Won't Budge And Greatly Trouble Us Sometimes our enemies seek to trouble us by Magnifying a certain train of thoughts about something or someone and even God if that's possible. They seek to divert your attention or commitment to Him by questioning His Character by magnifying someone's experience (even your own) so big in your mind and it has your full attention - it's increasingly difficult to shift your mind from it. Maybe it's some world events. When your thoughts start to change (you find yourself disturbed) catch them quick and "nip them in the bud" before they develop. Sometimes they can become oppressive and they are mistaken for depression - learn to recognise the difference. Most times (we are affected this way) our enemies Coerce us Gradually, making us feel helpless. Don't let them do that. Instead, Magnify The Lord's Might and Loving-Kindness towards you (audibly with your voice, raising the volume above those thoughts, so to speak). And be still before Him as your thoughts start to settle. You can find a way to do this. Some of us who have trained themselves to Focus on Him in the midst of things, can be really still with The Lord first and Praise and Magnify Him quietly, in the midst of things. You find this assuring strategy in Psalm 62 where David says 1 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. 2 He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. (New Living Translation) I've experienced that a few times and mistaken it for depression because I felt so low at the time. The Lord clearly spoke to me and said "that is not depression, that's torment" and when I looked to Him in response to His Voice it would break away from me and I was Free of it - that which had me in absolute overwhelm and made me feel helpless. This is actually a form of oppression. Often, at these times, Christians can mistake this for depression because they're really down when this occurs. HOWEVER, DON'T ALWAYS THINK THERE IS OPPRESSION OR DEPRESSION INVOLVED. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO TRAIN OUR MIND WHERE TO LINGER OR SHIFT UPSETTING THOUGHTS AND MOVE ON. GOOD NEWS: I Have A Really Nice New Website Called Inspired In Christ Which Has Different Web-Menus At The Top Of Your Screen With Sub-Pages Like NEW BIBLE VERSIONS (There Are 30+ Which May Be New To You Including New Testaments. It's Really Great To See The Particular Wording In Some Of These Different Translations. Many Have Been Excited To Discover Them) PICTURE VERSES And BIBLE HELPS (With Lots Of Wonderful Resources To Make Reading His Word Interesting) Lots Of Genuine Christian MP3s And MUSIC VIDEOS. Lots And Lots Of NATURE PICTURES (That Includes Beautiful Scenery And Cute Little Baby Animals) And So Much More. Instant Access To The Bible Versions, Audio Versions And International Versions As Well (Lots Of Them. A Really Good Website For Focusing Your Thoughts On JESUS. Visit There Today By Clicking HERE THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER WEBSITE - REALLY BEAUTIFUL - YOU CAN VISIT CALLED InspirationsForChristians.Com HERE For good measure, there Is Another One Of My New Websites Which Has Scenery And Little Baby Animal Pictures Too - Really Gorgeous) In A Menu Called BEAUTY OF CREATION. There Are Lots Of Natural Health Tips, And Heaps Of Specially Selected Recipes We Can Make At Home Through The Following Months, When We Need To Keep Our Homes Happy, Aye?That Menu Is Called TASTY RECIPES. There Are So Many Blessings To Find On That Website HERE Too. People Love It! There's Plenty To Keep Your Thoughts On Good Things With These Websites. No Google Adds On Any Of Them! TAGS: Upsetting Thoughts, Sticky Thoughts, Disturbing Thoughts That Linger |