Start your week right. Jump in the boat with the right mindset to overcome challenges you might meet. Ready to fill your tacklebox?
Do You Have P.M.A?
Growing up in my family we had a few anacronyms that somehow became part of our family lexicon. We had P.D.K which was pleasant dreams kid(s). This was said as we headed off to bed. The other one was P.M.A. which stood for positive mental attitude. The origins of this anacronym was from a personal development seminar my mom attended. When we were down someone would say P.M.A and it would usually produce a chuckle because we all thought it was a little absurd that three letters could change our mood; well it usually did.
Later in life I attended several coaching and leadership trainings that all had some variation of this concept. It usually was T.F.A which stands for thoughts, feelings, actions. A thought is followed by a feeling then followed by an action. This cycle is for positive thoughts or negative thoughts. Now, usually the trainer attempts to get you to see how powerful your thoughts are and that if you are having bad feelings or bad actions then you need to change your thoughts. I believe this is true and that is why visualizing positive outcomes can be so important to your well being.
But how do you change your thoughts? I was never consistent in changing my thoughts when those thoughts were extremely negative. Usually I found myself spiraling further and further down into negativity. I find the tools they would give me were band-aids that didn’t hold. A tool often touted is telling yourself affirmations. Maybe affirming myself does help me gain the courage to make a sales call, but not to bring me out of depression! And besides, when my negative self is in control, are self affirmations authentic? All I would think of was Stuart Smalley skits from Saturday Night Live (link). The other favorite tools to throw at changing thoughts is being stoic in all things or changing yourself because you can’t change the world. None of these really worked for me and if they did it only lasted as long as my will power.
This is what has worked for me.
Step 1: Cast all my burdens on to Christ. (1 Peter 5:6-9) KJV
Step 2: Know that you are in a battle that is not in the flesh! Understand that trials will happen which can cultivate negative thinking. Identify your negative thought and hold it captive. (2 Corinthians 10:3-6) KJV
Step 3: Give thanks to God for those things in your life that are from Him. Know that these trials are just strengthening your faith and you are gaining wisdom. (Scriptures on thankfulness in trials) You can win this battle of your mind and replace those thoughts with all that is good in your life. Even the simplest, positive thought (like a sunny day) backed by God can destroy all those negative thoughts.
Are You at a Crossroads in Your Life?
I have been watching Jordan Petersen transition from professor, to free speech activist, to practically an evangelist. His transformation from shying away from the subject of faith to fully embracing it has been a joy to witness. His commencement speech at Hillsdale College is only missing the altar call at the end.
Jordan talks about the metaphorical crossroads we encounter where we are required to make a choice that will determine our trajectory. Even though his audience is college graduates I think many of you who are at your own crossroads will benefit from the speech. Take a 45 minute break this week to take a listen (link).
Be a Blessing today!
Coach H