FREEDOM THINKING #2

TAKING ON THE A.N.T.S

As you think in your heart, so you will be.

Proverbs 23:7



As we continue helping with freedom producing thinking, we are going to look a little more at those little stingers that we call A.N.T.s   or Automatic  Negative Thinking. Given it is true that your thoughts really can dominate your life, and they can  lead it to a place of either darkness or light, this is important. Indeed A.N.T.s can really complicate a persons life, especially if she or he does not realize that they are stomping daily in a whole bed of those hurtful little but powerful things.  Let's begin looking at a colony of A.N.T.s and see what we can learn.  Much thanks to Daniel Amen (Noted Psychiatrist and author) for these insights.

Our overall mind state has a certain tone or flavor based largely on the types of thoughts we think. When the deep limbic system is overactive, it sets the mind's filter on "negative." If you could look into the thoughts of people who are depressed, you would find one dispiriting thought following another. When they look at the past, there is regret. When they look at the future there is anxiety and pessimism. In the present moment, something is most often unsatisfactory. The lens through which they see themselves, others, and the world has a dim grayness to it. They are suffering from Automatic Negative Thoughts, or ANTs. ANTs are cynical, gloomy, and complaining thoughts that just seem to keep coming all by themselves.

ANTs can cause people to be depressed and fatalistic, which have a profound impact on their lives. "I know I won't pass that test on Tuesday." This kind of thinking makes for a self-fulfilling prophecy: if they've already convinced themselves they won't pass, they won't study very hard and they won't pass the test. This type of thinking severely limits a person's ability to enjoy his or her life because how a person thinks on a moment-to-moment basis plays a large role in how one feels and how they conducts their life journey. If you are depressed all the time, you don't expect good things to happen so you don't try very hard to make them happen. The internal distress from melancholy thinking can make you behave in ways that alienate others, thus causing you to isolate yourself further. On the other hand, positive thoughts and a positive attitude will help you radiate a sense of well being, making it easier for others to connect with you. Positive thoughts will also help you be more effective in your life. So, as you can see, what goes on in your mind all day long can determine whether your behavior is self-defeating or self-promoting.

It is because this is true that  a few blogs ago, I simply shared a spiritual practice where Christ-Followers could focus themselves on their true identity in Christ by providing a list of statements for stating who I am in Christ.  That is why I ask you all to say these out loud repeatedly. If you are walking in a lot of darkness practicing this practice can bring you peace, and it can add vitality to your sojourn.

Here are some examples of typical ANTs (automatic negative thoughts):

"You never listen to me."

"Just because we had a good year in business doesn't mean anything."

"You don't like me."

"This situation is not going to work out. I know something bad will happen."

"I feel as though you don't care about me."

"I should have done much better. I'm a failure."

"You're arrogant."

"You're late because you don't care."

"It's all your fault."

These thoughts severely limit a person's ability to enjoy his or her life. How you think "moment-by-moment" plays a large role in how you feel (a deep limbic system function). Negative thoughts cause you to feel internal discomfort or pain and they often cause you to behave in ways that alienate from other people. Hopeful thoughts, on the other hand, influence positive behaviors and lead people to feel good about themselves and be more effective in their day-to-day lives. Hopeful thoughts also are involved in helping people connect with others.

Healing the deep limbic system requires a person to heal their moment-to-moment thought patterns. When I worked in mental health as a Chaplain, I spent a great deal of time focusing on teaching the Veterans how to examine their thoughts and to reframe them; however, unfortunately, there is few formal places where we are taught to think much about our thoughts or to challenge the notions that go through our head, even though our thoughts are always with us.

Most people do not understand how important thoughts are, and leave the development of thought patterns to random chance. Did you know that every thought you have sends electrical signals throughout your brain? Thoughts have actual physical properties. They are real! They have significant influence on every cell in your body. When your mind is burdened with many negative thoughts, it affects your deep limbic system and causes deep limbic problems (irritability, moodiness, depression, etc.). Teaching yourself to control and direct thoughts in a positive way is one of the most effective ways to feel better.

In other words, taking time out to think about how you are thinking about what you are thinking about and then doing something positive about what you are thinking about can help bring more Christ like joy and balance into your life.  So we are going to discuss, in the coming days way to be freed by freedom thinking.

Be Blessed 2day ... Especially Today

SoJourner