Deep Beliefs

Sometimes we have beliefs that are so deep we are not really aware of them.  These patterns that may have been laid down over and over in early life can act like a rutted dirt road that takes the car off to the right even if you are consciously trying to turn left.  Beliefs may affect relationships, marriages, work life etc.  These "emotional habits" may even lead to compulsions and addictions.

One way out is to begin to practice mindfulness in daily life, applying such to our patterns of emotional reactivity.  For instance, maybe your husband says "I really want to work better at our parenting together" and you "hear" he "never gives me any credit" or "he's saying I'm doing it wrong" because of the lens through which you view comments from those close to you.

If we practice pulling back and watching our emotions without reactivity..we can sometimes avoid getting wrapped up in anxiety and anger...thereby responding much more creatively and helpfully in those situations that USED TO set us off.  I like breath focus...just noting in breath and then out breath...there's a thought now..gently back to in breath and out breath...another thought..just labeling it "thinking" and back to the breaths without judging the thought or yourself or the person in front of you....

prov 23:7

As Joyce Meyer says I am getting "more serious about thinking about what I am thinking about".

Thoughts bear fruit.  Your life will not get straightened out until your mind is!


...for as he thinks in his heart, so is he... prov 23:7

cruising

wow went on a great Carnival cruise!!!  A counselor needs to take care of herself i know but following the boat on the radar map(I could see Cuba!!) made me sad when we went past Haiti...all the pigouts on the boat and they are so hungry....  AND in Nassau they were throwing away perfectly good lounge chairs!!!  They were just piled up in the  dumpsters....  OK I am more motivated to give, give, give through Samaritan's Purse- Franklin Graham's ministry.  A few Christmases ago I quit the gift exchange and, instead, give in peoples' name to this charity.  I tend to focus on the healthcare, clean water and health gifts!