JOGGIN the NOGGIN
Studies conducted recently by neuroscientists have brought to light new and great discoveries about the functioning of our minds. Our noggins can think up to 60,000 thoughts each day. Most thinking is done on autopilot with the mind thinking the same habitual thoughts over and over again. If it seems like you’re hashing out the same mental routine each day, there’s a good chance you are.
Our brains protect their storehouse of information — good or bad. Engrained habits are protected so the autopilot lifestyle can be maintained. But when we’ve repeated a new thought or practiced a new behavior for about 90 days, it becomes part of the brain architecture; voila, we have new hardwiring!
The good news is that we CAN change the way we think. After that, those new-and-improved – redemptive thoughts become habit. A new lifestyle can become the new norm. The Bible says we can challenge false thoughts by “taking every thought captive.” The apostle, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. By thinking on what is true we overcome low self-esteem, fear and doubt. We can also have what the Bible calls “the mind of Christ.” Because those lies of low self-esteem, fear and doubt don’t exist in the mind of God. We can think new-and-improved thoughts because of the power of the Spirit that indwells us. It’s like jogging for our noggin!
Take the initiative today to call those stubborn false thoughts by name, write them down and then run them out of your head. Replace them with noble thoughts, admirable thoughts—thoughts of excellence—and allow your new-and-improved thought life to open the door to a grander life.
Our brains protect their storehouse of information — good or bad. Engrained habits are protected so the autopilot lifestyle can be maintained. But when we’ve repeated a new thought or practiced a new behavior for about 90 days, it becomes part of the brain architecture; voila, we have new hardwiring!
The good news is that we CAN change the way we think. After that, those new-and-improved – redemptive thoughts become habit. A new lifestyle can become the new norm. The Bible says we can challenge false thoughts by “taking every thought captive.” The apostle, Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. By thinking on what is true we overcome low self-esteem, fear and doubt. We can also have what the Bible calls “the mind of Christ.” Because those lies of low self-esteem, fear and doubt don’t exist in the mind of God. We can think new-and-improved thoughts because of the power of the Spirit that indwells us. It’s like jogging for our noggin!
Take the initiative today to call those stubborn false thoughts by name, write them down and then run them out of your head. Replace them with noble thoughts, admirable thoughts—thoughts of excellence—and allow your new-and-improved thought life to open the door to a grander life.
A Christian counselor recently directed me to read "Change You Brain, Change Your Life" by Daniel Amen, MD as he deals with what's happening when the brain is effected by damage, say, from a concussion that might be way in the past. www.amenclinics.com is his website and it is quite interesting. Also, in "The Healing Codes", Dr. Alex Lloyd speaks of Proverbs 4:23. YOU might find both books insightful reading, though not particularly or specifically Christian. Another book by a neuroscientist is "How God Changes Your Brain". p 175 has a section on confronting the belligerent brain--just the title makes me smile wryly! But it has useful insights.
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