4 Tools to Crush Negative Thinking

If you’re anything like me or the other 7.4 billion people on this planet, the biggest obstacle to your No Small Life is perched nicely between your ears.  That’s right it’s your brain.

Our minds juggle so much information.  Some important and some inexplicably random.  For instance, if we ever play a movie trivia game together? You want me on your team.  My ability to retain knowledge about movies I’VE NEVER EVEN SEEN, borders on embarrassing.

Thoughts dart in and out of our brains all day long.  Some of them spur us on in our God-given destiny, while more common than not, some thoughts steeped in things like fear and insecurity, jerk our momentum to an abrupt halt.

Recently, I heard a stat that says the average person thinks approx. 60,000 thoughts a day and 80% of those thoughts are negative!  #MicDrop That stat might seem shocking… until you start focusing on all thoughts that have already run through your brain today. What were you thinking as you woke up? As you got dressed? As you fought traffic? When someone didn’t respond to your “funny” joke? (I know you’re funny. The struggle’s real.)

Personally, I fought through a slew of negativity this morning before I even made my way out the door. Why? Because not only is the enemy of our souls ruthless, but too often WE are our own worst critics.

I wholeheartedly believe that our thoughts control our behaviors and our behaviors shape the destiny of our No Small Lives. So REALLY, I can’t think of a better area for us to discuss than our thinking, can you?

No worries, this isn’t going to be heavy, but rather full of solution! This is an area that I’ve struggled through and have yet to master. BUT, I do have 4 resources from my personal playbook that have helped me tremendously.  4 Resources that are my go-to’s when I know I’m starting to buy into lies. And because I love you so, I’m sharing them with you today. So settle in, grab your black coffee with Liquid Vanilla Stevia (no? just me? 😉 )and let’s dish.

The Bible talks over and over again about “setting” or “fixing” our minds.  I love that word picture.  The fact that it takes a physical action to reign in the “theatre of our minds.” And like Romans 12 :2 says, if we’re transformed by the renewing of our minds, fixing our thoughts on truth and the way God thinks about us, our life and our future, is getting us half-way to Victory.  HOWEVER, if we’re really honest, do we know how to do that?  Do we know the strategy or the plan to set out minds when the attacks are firing against our brains?

Well friend, here are 4 tools that will fuel you with truth and strategy so that when the lies start messing with you, you’ll know how to mess back! 😉

1.  “Crash the Chatterbox,” by Steven Furtick

I downloaded this as an audiobook (‘cause that’s how I usually roll ) 🙂 and am currently on my 2^nd listen. Repetition=Sinking In.   You’ll appreciate this book because it’s not only packed with truth, but it’s very authentic…like, shockingly authentic. My respect level for Steven Furtick went up a couple of notches due to how willing he was to be vulnerable for the sake of transparency and freedom for his audience. This book is also very practical. At its core, its based around overcoming lies in 4 areas of your life and replacing them with truth. The 4 areas are Insecurity, Fears, Discouragement, and Condemnation. And just to give you one more reason to read/listen to this book, here’s one of my favorite quotes:

“God has given us the ability to choose the internal dialogue we believe and respond to and once we learn how we can switch from lies to truth as dilberately as we can choose the Beatles over Miley Cyrus on satelight radio.”-Steven Furtick

2.  “The Promise of Security” by Beth Moore.

From the first word to the last, this booklet is jam packed with so much truth and because it’s from Beth Moore, it reads like you’re having a conversation with a loving mentor over a Latte. The next great thing about this resource is the investment, both time and money. You can get this in paperback or Kindle form for…$0.99! OR, you can do like I did and buy it for $5.00 on iTunes so you can listen over and over in your car or as you’re cleaning. I could use a good dose of truth when I’m cleaning couldn’t you? 😉 If you choose to get the audio version, guess what? It’s only 45 min! So so do-able even if you’re short on time.

 Even the layout is practical and very user friendly. Here are some of the headers for the days you have 5 min to combat the lies you’re dealing with:

“When life seems unpredictable…”

            “When you long to be healthy and whole…”

            “When you lack confidence…”

            “When you feel alone…”

I have recommended this to so many girlfriends. And it’s one I listen and re-listen to over and over again.

3. “Power Thoughts” by Joyce Meyer

Proverbs 23:7 says, “(as a man) thinks in his heart, so is he.” In a nutshell, we become what we think. And once you’ve taken the steps to memorize what the word of God says about you, you can combat the lies that creep into your heart and mind much quicker. “Power Thoughts,” in true Joyce Meyer fashion, is extremely practical and applicable. The goal of this book (taken from the promo :)) is to help you:

-learn 12 specific thoughts to positively affect every area of your life

-Learn how to think right thoughts on purpose

-Become decisive, confident and productive

Where do I sign up, am I right? Now, full disclosure: I have not read this entire book. I know, I know, stop looking at me like that! :p I’ve only skimmed the book, BUT I did listen to all the podcast’s that she preached on the book. It’s on my read/listen to 😉 list, BUT I wanted to share it with all of you so bad, that I couldn’t wait until I finished it. A speed reader I am not.

            Like I said before, this book is super practical. The 12 thoughts you memorize are all one sentence based on a scriptural truth. As a quick reference I saved them in the Notes App on my phone. Because this girl needs as many blatant instant reminders as humanly possible. 🙂 I’ve also had friends that have printed them out and hung them on their fridges or over their desk. I think you’re really going to enjoy this one.

4. 21 Day Brain Detox by Dr. Caroline Leaf

21-day Brain Detox is an online program created to help you learn how to control your thoughts instead of them controlling you.  The great thing about this program is that it only takes about 7-10 min a day. Dr. Leaf teaches you how to break down toxic thoughts and build healthy replacement thoughts-literally breaking down HOW to renew your mind in very practical steps. For more GREAT books by Dr. Leaf, click here.

I hope these tools bless you and your No Small Life!

Until Next Time,

Meg

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