What Was That?

Do you hear the messages that you speak to yourself?

Psychologists say we silently speak to ourselves. Repetitively. What are you saying?

These studies suggest that the silent messages are often filled with negative, critical thoughts about ourselves. We believe them. They incapacitate us and restrict our ability to perform. They hold us back. The studies say: Change the negative talk to positive talk and the day and the days ahead will be radically different. This is true because what you think about yourself is transformed into what you believe about yourself. We act based upon belief. Negative thoughts lead to negative belief.

This concept about our thinking is weaved throughout the Bible. ‘As a person thinks so is he’ is commonly quoted from the Proverbs. Perhaps more profound words come from the Apostle Paul when he says to ‘think about such things’. That is, “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

The ‘such things’ direct our thoughts to affirm, build, promote the best of life. There is nothing destructive or negative about these thoughts. In contrast our silent conversations with ourselves are often filled with negative thoughts. As someone once said, ‘would you accept from others what you say about yourself?’ Probably not. We would be offended!

Positive self talk does not make everything positive in the world. Life is filled with all kinds of experiences many of which are disagreeable if not ugly. But it does mean and studies show that a person with positive thoughts develops a positive outlook on life and handles life challenges better.

One crystal clear point that we learn from Bible Characters is that they take the experience of tough daily albeit negative circumstances and transform them into incredible opportunities for themselves – and for us. They are able to do this because their belief is profoundly deep and strong. They see the positive. They affirm the positive. It is not a belief grounded in themselves. It is a belief grounded in the power and presence of the Divine. A Divine that is positive.

You too can have major impact upon the world. The way you view the world about you and how you react to it impacts everyone. You will only act upon what you believe.

Don’t take my word for this. Think on these wonderful things. Discipline your self talk with positive talk. Experience the world in a different way. ‘Think about such things’ and your experience and view of the world is transformed. God is there.