Do you ever get tired of the words you have rolling around in your head?Goodness knows I do.Some days it feels like there's a middle school bully up there pushing me around, calling me names, and literally just giving me a mental beat down.I know who the bully is.As a Christian, I know that Satan uses first person talk in my mind to make me believe lies about myself. For example it's never "You're not smart, pretty, worthy, loved." No, it always turns into me taking complete ownership of the lie Satan wants me to believe "I'm not smart. I'm not pretty. I'm not worthy. I'm not loved."If you've seen the movie The Help, you'll probably recall the very touching and memorable part where Aboline leans in to the little girl she has practically raised and says "You is Kind, You Is Smart, You is Important."I cry through that whole movie but especially at that part!I love truth. I love it because it literally has the power to set us free. When we focus our minds on what is true, it changes the whole trajectory of our thinking and ultimately our lives!The mind can be a toxic place if we aren't careful so I wanted to quickly share some of the ways I've had my mental lie detector on high alert.
Listen to conviction, throw out condemnation.
Condemnation has a way of devaluing. while conviction actually adds more value. Conviction is always kind but condemnation is a bully. If you're allowing condemnation to rule your thoughts sending you into a spiral of negative emotions, reject those ideas and replace them with the truth that you can always work harder and be better but you are loved totally and completely
right where you are this very second.
Speak affirmations, silence doubt.
Affirmations are borderline cheesy but gosh are the effective! I read in a parenting book one time that you must speak the truth you wish to see in your child. They need to physically hear what you believe they are capable of. So every night before the girls go to sleep, we go through positive affirmations. Right after they've been disciplined for a wrong behavior, we affirm the exact opposite of that behavior. For instance, when Rowen wacks Reese over the head, after she apologizes and they hug it out, she has to hold her hands up and say "I use my hands to be kind. I do not use my hands to hit." Whatever area you feel weakest in is the one that's crying out to be affirmed. Wake up to your potential by literally speaking it into your reality. Our words are so powerful!
Discipline disappointments, practice being grateful.
Disappointment is a tough thing to deal with but when we have the right perspective, it can be a great teacher. Too many times we make it our enemy. It's not! We can learn and grow from the things that let us down. But if you let your disappointments tear you apart, then you learn nothing and no one wins. Instead, have an attitude of gratitude and choose to see growth as your friend and not your enemy. I will be the first to admit that I literally have to have the truth right in front of my face DAILY in order to not believe the lies that get conjured up in my head. I keep God's word handy and read it out loud on the regular but especially in the moments I'm feeling down and out.There's a lot on the line not only for me, but also for my girls. If I'm going to teach them how to have healthy mindsets, it's something I'm going to have to practice myself.I hope this will help you in your thinking this week. I hope you know thatYou are loved.You are valued.You are beautiful.You are special.And don't you let anyone tell you otherwise!
