Your
feelings follow your thoughts like a caboose lags behind a locomotive. If your
"thought locomotive" goes into the valley, then your "feelings
caboose" will follow it into the valley. But if the locomotive goes up a
mountain, the caboose lags behind the train at first but it will eventually
follow it up the mountain.
Here’s
a test to show how thoughts affect moods:
1.
When I’m happy, I’ve been thinking _______________ thoughts.
2.
When I’m sad, I’ve been thinking ________________ thoughts.
3.
When I’m angry, I’ve been thinking _______________ thoughts.
4.
When I’m depressed, I’ve been thinking _____________ thoughts.
The
answers are: 1. happy 2. sad 3. angry 4. depressing
Do
you see the correlation between the way you think and the way you feel? What
you think about produces the mood you are in. Your thoughts tell your
emotions what to do. Emotions simply
respond to the information that is fed to them.
If
you watch a horror movie, you’ll be afraid even though you know the movie isn’t
real. If you watch a sad movie, you’ll cry.
A comedy will make you laugh and put you in a happy mood. If you’re depressed,
it’s because you've been dwelling on depressing thoughts. Some depression is
caused by other factors, but it’s primarily caused by dwelling on negative
thoughts, which produces the feelings of depression.
What
you think about is the problem, but it’s also the solution to the
problem. If your thoughts affect your
emotions, then your moods can be
reversed by changing the way you think. Philippians 4:8 tells us to dwell on
positive, healthy thoughts. Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say
it again, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). Thinking positively releases endorphins that
correct the chemical imbalances caused by depression. Although God didn't explain
to us the medical reasons for rejoicing, He did tell us "a joyful heart is
good medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). (Slaying Your Giants, pp.179-180)
Do
you want to change how you feel? Decide today to change what you think about. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com www.makinglifecount.net
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(NOTE: The 20-Lesson
Discussion Guide for Small Groups must be purchased separately)
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