Because you can’t escape your own mind, you need these 10 things …

The human mind is one of the most awe-inspiring creations of God!

Our minds are capable of wonderful things!

And things not so wonderful.

In fact, the biggest source of your troubles in life is your own thought life.

The fastest way to anxiety and depression is your own uncontrolled thinking.

The big problem with this is that there’s no escaping your own mind! THAT’S WHY …

… it must be transformed. Transforming your mind is something God says is essential for your being able to live the life He has created you for (Rom. 12:2, Eph. 4:20-23).

… you should nurture your relationship with the Holy Spirit. When you become a disciple of Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you and begins a lifelong process of transforming you into the likeness of Christ. That includes the work of renewing your mind and leading you into truth. The more intimate of a relationship you have with, and the greater cooperation you give to, the Holy Spirit, the purer the mind you’ll have for living.

… you should develop skills for reframing your thinking. Any competent Christian Cognitive-Behavioral therapist will tell you that your thoughts create your emotions, and the combination of your thoughts and emotions create your behavior. So learning to redirect or reframe your thoughts away from sin, from irrational thinking, or patterns of cognitive distortions will help you overcome a thought life that can otherwise generate anxiety or lead you down a dark path to depression. Reframing your thinking enables you to filter out of your thoughts untruths and irrationalities that would cause you trouble.

… it’s important to cultivate a strong sense of self-awareness and other-awareness. Recent research reveals that about 95 percent of the decision we make are made at a subconscious level. That can mean a lack of adequate thoughtfulness about self or others when making decisions or responding to people. Learning to be more self-aware and more aware of others enhances the quality of our thoughtfulness and decision-making.

… that’s why you need to develop and apply the self-discipline God has enabled you with (2 Tim. 1:7).

… that’s why you need to be a good steward of your body. Your brain needs the many and varied benefits it gains when your provide your body with healthy nutrition, consistent physical exercise, and consistently getting adequate sleep and rest. You’ll be able to think more efficiently and clearly rather than settling for the sluggishness and “brain fog” that comes from a junk food diet, sedentary life, and a persistent state of exhaustion.

… that’s why you need the fellowship of the church. When we live life fully part of the family of God and an active part of the body of Christ, we have our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us exercise discernment, wisdom, and biblical truth so that we can have the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:13-16).

… that’s why we need reliable relationships. There’s an old saying that “two heads are better than one.” Better yet is what scripture teaches us about that in Ecclesiastes 9-12, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

… that’s why we need to learn and hone effective communications skills. Such skills enable us to not only speak effectively, but also to listen effectively. That whole process spurs our minds to deeper consideration, greater discernment, and better, more collaborative decision-making.

… that’s why you need to make time just to think, and to process emotions. Imagine how making a little time every day for this could improve and impact your life!

No, you cannot escape your own mind — but you don’t have to, and you won’t want to, if you care for it and use it well!

Scotty