Think Yourself Healthy
“Men are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them.” Epictetus
“For as a man thinks within himself, so he is.” Proverbs 23:7
“We are the product of our thinking, so it is important that we choose carefully where to focus our mental energy.” Dr. Charles Stanley
Good mental health! It’s a statement we hear quite often, but the reality of what really constitutes it is sometimes illusive. Aside from those who have a diagnosable disorder of some type or a medical issue, the interplay of our thinking, emotions and behaviors must be taken into account for good mental health. It is often our misunderstanding of the interaction of these three that can cause some confusion, worry, anxiety or distress. In Cognitive therapy, a model is used which asserts that people’s thoughts and perceptions of events strongly influence their emotions and behaviors. It is not a situation in and of itself that determines how we feel, but the way we interpret or give meaning to an event or situation. Most of us relate how we feel about events, things and circumstances and therefore spend a lot of time attempting to arrange and change circumstances so we will be happy. The truth however, is emotions and behaviors do not depend on our environment, but our thoughts and belief systems which are called, our SELF TALK.
Choices! Our choices of our thoughts about events-our self talk-create our emotions and affect our behaviors! Self talk initiates and intensifies our emotions. It directs how we behave and what we say to others; and what people say to themselves governs the way they feel and act. Is your self talk a critical voice or an affirming one? The emotional or behavioral consequence of an event or situation in our life is not created by that event. It is our belief system, what we tell ourselves, which creates them. We create change in our lives by gaining control of our thoughts. Our thought processes, such as how we view ourselves and others, and how we approach problems, have been programmed throughout our lives from our development, family interactions, experiences, relationships, knowledge and other influences. We can decide on some of our mind’s influences-such as what we read, watch, listen to- but others such as parents or our environment we cannot. But we can choose what influences and input will shape our mind by believing and dwelling on that material.
Attitude is everything! Chuck Swindoll, a well known pastor in Frisco, says the most significant decision he can make daily is his choice of attitude. Making a determined decision of your will to change your attitude definitely leads to a healthy mind. We control our attitude; we have the power to change it if we decide to and this is biblical principle-“to be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Eph 4:23). Kevin Gerald, also a pastor, uses the F.A.I.T.H. acrostic:
- Focus on the positive– decide what you will focus on, will it be positive things or negative? Positive minds are always full of faith. Affirm yourself- what do you tell yourself all day long, your self talk, inner dialogue?
- Imagine God doing something good in your life- imagine the best; imagine God at work for your best!
- Trust God in all things- think on God’s presence with you at all times.
- Hope for the best- hope leads you to faith.
Distorted Thoughts! Be aware and be careful of how you perceive situations, events and even the behaviors and intended messages of others. It is certainly easy to get trapped into the most common distorted thoughts:
Filtering-tunnel vision; looking at one element of the situation without looking at any others.
Polarized- seeing everything in extremes; no middle ground.
Overgeneralization- a conclusion is based on one incident or piece of information.
Mind reading- snap judgments where there is no evidence for the assumption which is made based on hunches, intuition, a couple of experiences or vague feelings.
Catastrophizing- making a mountain out of a molehill.
Personalization- relating everything to you; blaming yourself, always taking the responsibility.
Emotional reasoning- if I feel it, it must be true.
Blaming- someone else is responsible and it takes the responsibility off of us.
Should’s- set of inflexible rules that are correct, indisputable and absolute-any deviation is bad.
Always being right- consistent effort to always prove your perspective.
God’s word continually affirms the necessity of using our mind and being “self controlled” (1 Thess 5:6, 8; 1 Peter 1:13, 4:7, 5:8). It tells us to take our thoughts “captive” and to get rid of the thinking that is unhealthy, vain and of no use. We need to replace negative, unrealistic or distorted thinking with higher ways of thinking, “setting our minds on things above” and making choices to have the right attitude. Retrain your brain! Make into habits the positive things you want in your life. Try the 3-D’s: decide what kind of person you want to be and declare it out loud, on paper. Then, direct your mind toward that goal. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). As Rick Warren says in “How to Be Thankful in Tough Times”: don’t worry about anything; pray about everything; thank God in all things; and think about the right things!
What we think about, what we dwell on, where we FIX OUR MIND, will dictate our peace!
Mike Dawson
keto fried chicken
keto diet grapes https://ketodietplanus.com/
free dating gay
dc gay speed dating https://gaychatgay.com/
anchorage alaska gay dating
gay couple dating https://gaychatrooms.org/
gay dating tampa
gay dating videos https://gaychatus.com/
best gay dating site san diego
stl gay dating https://gaydatingzz.com/
dating sites gay women
the gay dating line “976-4297” https://freegaychatnew.com/
gay dating site starts with s
best dating site for gay guys https://gayedating.com/
dating gay jewish
is is barry jenkins dating gay https://datinggayservices.com/
best gay dating documentaries
gay chub dating wv https://gayonlinedating.net/
tiffany pollad gay dating
dating a mormon gay guy https://gaydatingcanada.com/
top gay dating sites 2021
gay dating websits https://gaydatinglosangeles.com/
write your essay for you
writing essay online https://essayghostwriter.com/
academic essay writing
websites that write essays https://essaywritercentral.com/
writing literary analysis essay
write good essays https://essaypoints.com/
writing cause and effect essay
writing a comparative essay https://essaytag.com/
write your essay for you
essays on writing https://essaysnet.com/
essay writing helper
writing a comparison and contrast essay https://onlinecasinos4me.com/
essays to write
write my essay 4 me https://online2casino.com/
online gambling sites no deposit
free online casino bonus https://casinosonlinex.com/
top casino site
online mobile casino https://casinoonlinet.com/
sign up bonus no deposit casino
online casino us https://onlinecasinoad.com/
online gambling reviews
best online casino https://casinoonlinek.com/
write an argument essay
write essay online https://multiessay.com/
essay writing site
write my essay for me cheap https://dollaressays.com/
write my essay 4 me
help me write an essay https://student-essay.com/
best sex games reddit
sex games play online https://sexgameszone.com/
zone tan sex games
games you can have sex on https://sex4games.com/
spring break sex games
jhonny test sex games https://sexygamess.com/
ben10 sex games
amazing adult sex flash games https://winsexgames.com/
reddit best sex games
thechoice sex games https://sexgamesx.net/
dsm sex games
batman sex games https://cybersexgames.net/
best nj online casino
top online casino bonuses https://casinogamesmachines.com/
motor city online casino
online casino freespins https://conline-casinos-hub.com/
keto zucchini lasagna
keto chicken breast recipes https://ketogendiet.net/
no bake keto cheesecake
keto air fryer recipes https://ketogenicdietinfo.com/
keto meal prep ideas
keto meal delivery service https://ketogendiets.com/
essay writing services australia
writing an admissions essay https://anenglishessay.com/
writing argumentative essays
help with writing essays https://topessayswriter.com/
what to write about in college essay
website that writes essays https://yoursuperessay.com/
essay writing services australia
writes essay for you https://howtowriteessaytips.com/
websites to write essays
focus on writing paragraphs and essays https://checkyouressay.com/
chad widmann gay dating sites
gay military men dating site https://gayprideusa.com/
celebrity "gay dating site"
gay bear dating https://gayfade.com/
hooked gay dating
gay dating on facebook https://gaysugardaddydatingsites.com/
good examples of critical thinking in nursing
critical thinking essays https://criticalthinkingbasics.com/
critical thinking skills for dummies
nursing critical thinking development https://criticalthinkinginstitute.com/
critical thinking rubric
critical thinking steps https://criticalthinking2020.net/
elements of critical thinking
six critical thinking principles https://uncriticalthinking.com/
what is a persuasive essay
expository essay definition https://choosevpn.net/
respond essay
philosophy of education essay https://topvpndeals.net/
how to write an essay for a scholarship
grade my essay https://tjvpn.net/
we the students essay contest
what is a double spaced essay https://thebestvpnpro.com/
1500 word essay
literary essay https://vpn4home.com/
national junior honor society essay examples
globlization essay https://vpnshroud.com/
conclusion essay example
how to write an essay for college admission https://vpnsrank.com/
to construct an effective ending to any type of essay, you should
argumentative essay rubric https://vpn4torrents.com/
whats an essay
college essay header https://windowsvpns.com/
2vindicate
2sarcastically
2cholera
3tangent
gay nsa dating ratings
victim met killer on gay dating site new yorlk https://gaypridee.com
gay crossdresser dating
young gay dating https://gay-buddies.com
the gay dating game
older gay dating sites https://gayprideusa.com
dating site for gay men over 50
gay mature daddy dating site https://speedgaydate.com
what's the best site for finding a gay dating site for women
best gay dating sites for southwest florida https://gayfade.com
mature gay men dating
hispanic gay dating sites https://gaysugardaddydatingsites.com
free gay and bi mens chat
gay men webcame and chat https://bjsgaychatroom.info/
sugar daddy gay dating app
gay dating https://gaypridee.com/
gay random chat
ladybug chat noir gay https://gaytgpost.com/
gay live chat rochester video
gay chat recorded https://gay-buddies.com/
aristocrat slots free play
omg fortune free slots https://2-free-slots.com/
scatter slots girls
mail slots https://freeonlneslotmachine.com/
carrera slots
online slots real money https://candylandslotmachine.com/
caesars free slots
geisha slots on pc https://pennyslotmachines.org/
hack online slots
lincoln slots https://slotmachinesworld.com/
free classic slots
300 free slots of vegas https://slotmachinesforum.net/
vegas wotld slots
bier haus slots https://slot-machine-sale.com/
slots of montana
caesars casino free slots https://beat-slot-machines.com/
slots free games
las vegas slots free https://download-slot-machines.com/
adult slots era
wms slots https://411slotmachine.com/
cesars slots
computer memory slots https://www-slotmachines.com/
vdeos of live slots
caesars free slots online https://slotmachinegameinfo.com/
dissertation editor cost
writing thesis and dissertation proposals https://buydissertationhelp.com/
online ed.d programs without dissertation
psychology dissertation help https://dissertationwriting-service.com/
dissertation help service london
dissertation assistance https://help-with-dissertations.com/
dissertation methodology design help
how to cite a dissertation apa 7th https://mydissertationwritinghelp.com/
doctorate degree without dissertation
proposal and dissertation help objectives https://dissertations-writing.org/
dissertation meme
best dissertation writing help chicago https://helpon-doctoral-dissertations.net/