Beech Tree News Network

“Don’t believe everything you think.”  This is a concept introduced by Buddhist monks during the 14th century.  The concept is an acknowledgement that we all deal with automatic thoughts in the form of self-talk.
    Recently, Carla Scott did a presentation at our church on “telling yourself the truth.”  She used an illustration from the online site, watchwellcast.  This animated program helps you understand how to deal with problematic situations.  The one we watched was on automatic irrational thoughts.  You know, things like, “I’m never going to make it” or “I’m always going to be a failure” or “Nobody cares about me,” those kinds of thoughts.
    The program offered the following solution for dealing with irrational thoughts: Record, Rationalize then Replace.  In other words, write down the thought, put the thought into perspective then replace it with a rational, positive thought.  The approach seems simple enough, but I know how tough it can be to apply these steps to your own life.  It is, however, worth every effort to do so.
    I grew up with people who were constantly saying things to me like, “You’re not as smart as you think you are” and “You’re just a little show-off” and “We expected more out of you,” yadda, yadda, yadda.  After years of listening to those accusations, they became part of my own self-talk.  When I left home at seventeen, I took those accusations with me.  It would be years before I realized I didn’t have to “live in the wreckage of my future.” (From Louise Penney’s, A Great Reckoning)
    You know that verse from the Bible that says, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free,” well, that’s what happened to me.  I decided to listen to the truth.  I started reading positive words, listening to positive people, and fighting tooth and nail for every bit of faith, hope and insight I could get my hands on—it would be a while before I acquired the love part.
    I discovered the Book of Proverbs.  Most of the book is attributed to Solomon, the wisest man alive—at the time of publication, anyway.  I read a chapter every day, figuring it might make me “as smart as I thought I was,” thus combatting that negative thought.  While reading Proverbs, I found a verse in chapter four that said, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  It was then and there, I realized I had a heart problem.  I knew it couldn’t be fixed over-night, and even though I had never run across the concept of rationalizing and replacing negative thoughts, I instinctively knew that was the key. 
    What I didn’t know was that what lay in front of me were years of heart-wrenching failure then triumph, misunderstanding then insight, and finally patience with the whole process, as well as a realization that Pat Summit, legendary coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, had it all figured out when she told her players, “Left foot. Right foot. Breathe. Repeat.”
    Today, when negative or irrational thoughts come buzzing through my mind, I don’t just shoo them away.  I get out the fly swatter of truth and smash them to smithereens.  It is imperative that I do so.  I am not in this life by myself.  There are others who depend on me to be there for them, and I can’t be there for them if I’m not there for me.