Grab That Thought
I have a debilitating disease called “Millennial.” If I could go back ten years, I would spend less money on organic avocadoes and iced coffees and put that money into the stock market. Our thought life is remarkably like the stock ticker at the bottom of the screen. No matter what is happening on the screen, there is a constant, running message whether you are tuned into it or not. Our thought lives are the same: consciously and unconsciously running a constant loop of narratives and statements about ourselves. Certain ‘Thought Stocks’ are on the rise – and perhaps too frequently – other ‘Thought Stocks’ are dipping.
We are constantly looping a message in our thought life when it comes to identity, worth, and value. All of these thoughts are powerful. When positive, they can be used for good. More often than we care to admit, certain thoughts are debilitating and paralyzing. These loops play all day, and the longer they loop, the deeper root they take in our lives.
Psychology has placed a high importance on the acknowledgement of thoughts and their impact on a person. The Word of God says the same thing, long before psychology ever did. Consider Proverbs 4:23: Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
The ‘heart’ in humanity, and in counselling, is where our thought lives and affections live. As humans, we must guard our thought lives – and at times go to the wrestling mat with those thoughts. Your understanding of your identity, worth, and value are worth fighting for. Why? Because your understanding gives birth to your life experience.
Philippians 4:8 encourages us, “…whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” How do we make sure the thoughts that are looping in our minds lead to greater life?
Here are four ways to ground your thought life.
1. Stop & Acknowledge
In this part, remain completely neutral. Do not add morality, value, shame, or guilt. Simply read and record what the Stock Ticker in your mind is saying. What ‘Thought Stocks’ are on the rise? What ‘Thought Stocks’ are declining when it comes to how you view yourself, your worth, and your value? Simply write a list of what you observe. The good, the bad, the ugly-- write it all down.
2. Investigate & Record
Our thoughts are often paired with experiences. Life experiences preach to us about our value, worth, and identity. From #1 above, where are these thoughts coming from? Do they stem from words someone spoke to you? Is it from something that happened to you? Is it from something you did?
3. Remove & Agitate
Interact with yourself the way you would interact with someone you genuinely love. What thoughts come to mind? What positive themes can you observe about yourself? What does the Word of God say about you? At this point, we are beginning to interrupt the Stock Ticker of our minds. Your brain has essentially two ways of thinking and behaving – The Fast Brain (automatic) and the Slow Brain (logic). Psychologists have noted that most behaviour is automatic and run by the Fast Brain. Let’s slow the brain for a moment. We dig trenches of thoughts that become so well worn in our neuropathways that often, the negative thoughts move at hyper speed and feel automatic. The cool thing about neuroplasticity is that if you find yourself dwelling on thoughts and have dug a trench in negative thinking – neuroplasticity allows you to dig, develop, and deploy new thoughts and neuropathways into healthier ones. Become a master of agitating the Stock Ticker in a way that interrupts its information flow, and produces more encouraging information!
4. Develop & Move
Find some words and themes that you want to develop in your life. Spend a moment and dream. You may have heard of a strange phenomenon called the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy. What we think and believe often comes to fruition. Therefore, if we believe that we are ‘less than’ or ‘broken,’ then we put ourselves in situations and relationships that help feed that thought loop, which in turn makes our fears experientially true. Let’s use the self-fulfilling prophecy to our advantage and no longer to our deficit. To do this, we must first dwell on something good, right and true, like Philippians 4:8 tells us. Simply put: a healthier thought pattern moves you toward greater health.
New Patterns Take Time
Give yourself time and plenty of grace as you grow in acknowledging, investigating, agitating, and developing new ways of thinking in how you see yourself. Your brain is re-wiring itself. Much like a growing muscle, it takes time and repetition to see change. One final caution: make sure whatever you dwell on that is ‘right, pure, and true’ actually is true! The Word of God stands the test of time and is the final authority on your identity, worth, and value. Go to the mat! Grab that thought, change the loop, and watch it change your life.
Written by Matt King
Matt is the Executive Director of Broomtree Care and the Sr. Pastor of North Church in Bracebridge Ontario.
Article image by Artem Beliaikin
