Getting to the root of an issue …

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Have you ever had to pull weeds?

Perhaps you were working in a garden, landscaping a yard, or clearing a field and you discovered some pesky weeds that needed to go.

Here’s the thing about weeds: If you don’t pull up the roots, they’ll grow back!

The same is true in resolving issues in your life and making changes — if you don’t address the root cause of the issue, the issue will remain or come back.

There can be multiple root causes for an issue in your life, but there are five primary areas of life that are often at the root of most issues:

SPIRITUAL
We are, foremost, spiritual beings created for the sole purpose of worshiping, glorifying, and enjoying God. Surrendering our lives to Him provides us with purpose, power, and peace for our lives.

    • Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, according to how the Scriptures say we enter into a covenant relationship with Him being the Lord of our lives?
    • Are you living in obedience to Christ? Are there any unrepented patterns of sin in your life?
    • Is Bible study/reading and prayer a real and significant part of your daily life?
    • Are you an active member in a local church? In a home group or Sunday School class?
    • What kind of accountability do you have in living your life for Jesus Christ?

TEMPERAMENT
Temperament is that genetic, God-created in-born part of us the determines how we respond to people, places, and things. Our temperament never changes. However, we can learn to live to the strengths of our temperament rather than the weaknesses.

    • What temperament weaknesses are apparent in the way you live your life? What are the positive opposite traits of those weaknesses? What can you do to dehabituate from those negative temperament traits to habituate yourself to the positive temperament traits?
    • How can you meet your temperament needs in positive ways — ways that are positive for you, others around you, and are pleasing to God?
    • What temperament needs do you have that are not being met, or are not being met properly? How can these needs be met, or met properly?

COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL
Our thoughts create our emotions, and our thoughts and emotions together create our behavior.

    • What defective systems can you identify in your life (patterns of behavior where the cost exceeds the payoff – click here to learn more about defective systems)?
    • What cognitive distortions can you identify as being patterns in your thought life (click here to learn more about cognitive distortions)? How can you dehabituate yourself from these thought patterns to more rational thought patterns?
    • What mental retraining statements can you input into your thought-life to replace irrational thought patterns?
    • Why is it essential to mentally retrain yourself? How can you change your irrational thought patterns to rational thought patterns?

PHYSICAL
Physiology has a profound affect on our thoughts and emotions. Chronic pain, for example, can impact our moods. Our breathing patterns can heighten our levels of anxiety.

    • Consult with a physician about any physical problems or symptoms you may be experiencing.
    • Consult with a physician to determine adequate exercise and diet needs.

FUNCTIONAL
The effectiveness of structure in our lives dramatically impacts our personal lives and our relationships. Effective structure leads to success and accomplishment of objectives.

    • Is your marriage structured according to God’s design for marriage? What are roles and rules for the relationship?
    • Is your family structured according to God’s design for a family? What are the roles and rules for the relationships?
    • Is there a joint vision for the marriage and for parenting?
    • Do you have goals and dreams to direct you?
    • Is your life structured too practically?

MAKING CHANGES …
Changing your life is a partnership foremost between yourself and God, and involves your spouse as well if you are married. But change comes only when we are self-honest and self-aware. Spend some time looking at:

    • Who you are spiritually, and who you need to be.
    • How to meet your temperament needs positively.
    • How to develop a rational thought-life.
    • How to care for yourself physically.
    • The effectiveness of the functional structure of your life.

Depending on the root issue, a pastor, competent Christian clinical therapist, or physician (or some combination of these professionals) can help you make changes in these primary areas of your life. Get help if needed!

Scotty