You Are What You Think #2: Emotional Reasoning

As I said previously, if we think something often enough, we begin to believe it's true and our feelings match what we are thinking about ourselves.
The past two weeks I have struggled with a faulty thought pattern called "Emotional Reasoning."  I look around my house and know that it needs to be cleaned but I am overwhelmed by the prospect of cleaning.  My automatic negative thought is, "It's hopeless to even try to clean...."  The past few days I have been able to nip this in the bud with more positive, truthful statements: "Anything I do matters...  If I do one thing everyday, no matter how small,  it will make a difference and I will feel better about myself." This morning I "dusted" the tub we never use.  I then felt motivated to put a few things away.  It felt really good.  Tomorrow I will do more things and then again the next day.  I feel more positive today and it all happened because I fought back when the negative thinking started to take over again!

You are what you think!

In many cases, depression actually is the result of habitual negative  thoughts.  When bad things happen, we begin chastising ourselves with thoughts such as:  I'm no good, Nothing ever goes my way, I'm a failure...  Our feelings follow what we are thinking, and negative thoughts like these can send us spiraling down into depression.
This concept is the guiding principle behind cognitive therapy.  If we think something often enough, we begin to believe it's true and our feelings match what we are thinking about ourselves.  To conquer depression we must stop these automatic negative thoughts (ants) and replace them with more positive truthful ones
There are 10 faulty thought patterns that send us into depression.  You may recognize yourself in some of these that I will discuss over the next few days.
The first is All or Nothing Thinking.  An example of this might be is you apply for a promotion in your job.  It ends up being given to someone else.  You now tell yourself you are a total failure.  You beat yourself up.  You are having "ants".  Automatic Negative Thoughts!  You need to replace these thoughts with more positive, truthful ones.
Check your thinking lately...  What negative tapes are playing through your head?

Movie Review

Those of us who went to see Joyful Noise last night gave it a "thumbs up."  It was an upbeat chick flick and a great way to spend an extremely gray and gloomy day in January.  I have gotten email from a few of you wanting to get together for lunch sometime.  Our next meeting isn't until Feb 26 so it would be nice to have lunch and catch up.
Speaking of movies,  has anyone seen any of the films that are being nominated for awards?  Any recommendations?
Please keep everyone on the email list in your prayers...  It DOES make a difference!

Nurture a Spiritual Life

Your emotional well being can be affected by your spiritual life ( or lack of.)  It's helpful to read the Bible, pray, meditate, journal, join a Bibles study or worship with other believers.  There are many good daily devotionals that can guide your time with God.  I picked up one the other day in the bookstore titled, "40 Days with Jesus," by Sarah Young.  It was only 2.69 and is filled with encouragement.  The first day reminds us that Jesus knows our anxious thoughts and that when we draw near we experience His peace.
What are you doing to nurture your spiritual life?

Happy People are not Lazy about Happiness...

Sharing more on the book by Dr. Henry Cloud;
Happy people invest their time:
     *building relationships and community: they belong to support groups, Bible studies and get together       with friends or family
     *see a coach or counselor
     *pursue goals: physical, leisure,vocational...
     *nurture a spiritual life
     *serve others
     * have a healthy lifestyle
     *stretch themselves
     *are thankful
     *resolve pain and conflict:
It's important to move and keep moving.
The first step may be to join a support group, a class or get an accountability partner.  You have to overcome the lack of movement that has dominated you!

Joyful Noise

I asked my movie expert what time we should meet on Sunday for the movie and she suggests that since the movie is at 3:30 at Stoneridge, we should meet in the lobby at 3:15.  This will give people time to get their popcorn.  At 3:25 we will go into the theatre and sit in the back 2 rows.  This way is you are late you will know where we are sitting.  If you hate the back, you are welcome to sit wherever you want.  Let me know if you plan on coming so we can look for you!

Teens with Depression and Bipolar

I just received an email about some teens in our church who are struggling with depression and bipolar.  They are part of a high school group that meets every week.  Their adult leader asked me if i could talk with this group and also if we would be open to people as young as 15 coming to our meetings.  I say "yes."  What do you say?