Restoring Your Soul - Living a Limitless LifeSample

Don’t Dance with The Deceiver

An invaluable tool in changing how we think is changing how we speak. Would you talk to a trusted friend in the same manner you allow your inner voice to communicate with you?

Shad Helmstetter, psychologist and motivational life coach, wrote, “Self-talk is a way to override our past negative programming by erasing or replacing it with conscious, positive new directions. Self-talk is a practical way to live by active intent rather than passive acceptance.”

Some types of self-talk serve to empower us, and some enslave us. The most destructive self-talk is when “you say something bad or negative about yourself and accept it … everything from our simplest misgivings to the worst fears we have about ourselves. It is a way of telling ourselves to hesitate, question our capabilities, and accept less than we know we could have done had we only given ourselves a chance. It is our way of timidly hiding in the shadows instead of boldly thriving in the sunshine. ”This self-talk is characterized by beginning a statement or thought with, “I can’t…”

Let’s call negative self-talk what it is — a Deceiver. The definition of a deceiver is “to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid: ENSNARE”. It’s our choice to rob ourselves of life by falling into the trap of partnering with the lies our faulty beliefs have set in motion. This Deceiver robs us of our self-worth, a well-grounded present, and a fulfilling future. We have a choice to be led by the Deceiver or the Enlightener. Our destiny will be impacted by the dance partner we choose.

There are more constructive forms of self-talk that can “work for you instead of against you.” Making declarations such as “I never…” or “I no longer…” are positive statements that will shift your thinking. “The subconscious mind will believe anything you tell it if you tell it long enough and strongly enough. It will simply go to work to carry out its news directives.”

Instead of focusing on our weaknesses, what if we shifted our thinking and focused on our strengths? Instead of saying, “I’m damaged,” “I’m broken,” and “I have trust issues,” say, “I’m healing,” “I’m rediscovering myself,” and “I’m starting over.”

Another highly effective way to redirect our brain is with various “I am” statements. They focus our minds on truths to produce positive feelings and a change in actions. Stating out loud, “I am…,” “I can…,” “I believe…,” and “I choose to…” pushes us forward to live out what we desire deep within ourselves.

We can rise above a self-defeating perspective of ourselves and overcome a compromised identity by declaring Truth over our hearts and minds.

We renew our minds to see ourselves the way God sees us and to think the way He thinks about us.

I Invite You to Ask Yourself:

1. Does this self-talk move me toward peace, growth, and love — or toward fear, shame, and discouragement?

2. Is my current self-talk helping me become the person I want to be?

3. What truth can I replace this negative thought with?

AND:

Declare truths about yourself daily, such as those listed below, to profoundly impact your thoughts and renew your mind:

• I am capable of facing challenges with courage.
• I am accepted without having to be perfect.
• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
• I believe that God delights in me (Zephaniah 3:17).
• I accomplish tasks with excellence.