If your mind is filled with negative thinking, you will
live a defeated life. Negativity is a by-product of how you perceive life. Your
perceptions about your life and circumstances, greatly influence your thoughts.
A lot of the times our perceptions about our lives are not realistic. We have
unrealistic expectations for ourselves and others, this can cause us to have
flawed perceptions. Flawed perceptions will invariably led to negative
thinking.
Our thoughts usually are automatic. If you have been
raised in a negative environment, it is likely you will struggle with or have struggled
with negative thinking. If you have had a series of chronic, stress-related
issues, it can be common to develop a negative mind-set, because of difficult
circumstances. If you are around negative people frequently, their negativity
can affect you. It is important that we are careful who we spend our time with.
Negativity breeds negativity. Hang-out with positive, faith-filled people. It
is also common if you are depressed, your thinking will be negative.
It is important to consider how we
develop Automatic Negative Thought (A.N.T.s):
1.
From learned environments (the
family you were raised in).
2.
Difficult circumstances that have
overwhelmed you and caused you to feel hopeless.
3.
Negative influence (people who you
hang around).
4.
Depression (medical or spiritual).
5.
How you perceive your life and
circumstances (Do you see the cup half-empty or half-full?).
6.
Unrealistic expectations of
yourself or others.
7.
A combination of any of the above.
Key Steps to Overcoming A.N.T.s:
Take every thought captive. DO not
allow yourself to entertain, ponder, or dwell on negative thoughts.
When negative thoughts come, say, “STOP,”
out loud to retrain your brain to stop the negative thoughts. If you are in
public, you can say, “STOP” to yourself.
Replace negative thoughts with
positive, faith-filled thoughts. Confess God’s word over the negative thoughts.
Don’t give up! It takes usually
between 21-30 days to form a new habit. Retraining your brain does take time,
but with the help of the Holy Spirit it can be done.
Know your weaknesses and be ready
to respond in faith to them.
If you are depressed and it is
medical, consider talking to a holistic doctor/nutritionist and take a
supplement to build your serotonin levels (make sure the doctor/nutritionist beliefs line-up with yours). If your depression is spiritual, find an
intercessor, prayer warrior to pray in agreement for your deliverance.
If you have been devastated by
your circumstance, start applying faith and hope again to each difficult
circumstance. We walk by faith, not sight.
Let go of ALL expectations for
yourself and others. Apply grace to yourself and others. Stop excepting people
to be something they are not.
Change your perceptions. How do
you view your life? Be determined to see the “glass half-full.” Pray
and seek the Holy Spirit to help you overcome negative thinking.
In
the morning, when you arise, say, “This is the day the Lord has made and I will
be glad and rejoice in it.”
Meditate
on God’s word. Choose a scripture and roll it over your mind throughout the
day.
Negativity is toxic
to your mind, emotions, soul, and your physical body. Negativity will cause you
to live discouraged, defeated, and depressed. Be determined to live victoriously
and hopeful.
A.N.T.s that need
to be squashed immediately:
·
Fear
·
Anxiety
·
Worry
·
Hopeless
·
Discouraged
·
Defeated
·
Critical
·
Judgmental/fault-finding
·
Complaining/murmuring
·
Jealousy/envious/comparing
·
Perfectionism
·
Self-hate/condemnation/guilt/shame
·
Offense/bitterness/unforgiveness
·
Discontentment
Positive Confessions. Confess God’s
Word over your life daily.
1.
By His stripes I am healed. Isaiah
53:5
2.
The Son has made me free. I
possess absolute freedom. John 8:36
3.
The love of God is shed abroad in
my heart by the Holy Spirit. I have the ability to love everyone. Romans 5:5
4.
I can do all things through Christ
who strengths me. Philippians 4:13
5.
God has not given us a spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
6.
Greater is He that is within me
than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
7.
Casting all my cares upon Him, who
cares for me. 1 Peter 5:7
8.
There is no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
9.
I have learned, in whatsoever state
(circumstance) I am, to be content. Philippians 4:11
Bible Verses on Positive Thinking:
·
Let
your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to
answer every man. Colossians 4:8
·
Let
no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but which is good to the
use of edify, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:29
·
Refute
arguments and theories and reasonings and lofty things that sets itself up against
the true knowledge of God; and lead every thought captive into the obedience of
Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3
·
Finally,
brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever
is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything worthy
of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
·
Don’t
be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. Philippians 4:6
·
Do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
·
Death
and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its
fruits. Proverbs 18:21
Change your
thoughts and change your life.
For additional reading on overcoming negative thinking, you can order a copy of the author's book, Wilderness Mentality Stop your Stinkin' Thinkin' from www.createspace.com/4036785