I usually end each of these blog posts with a quote, some food for thought, but I'm actually going to begin with a quote instead:
"We get stuck in certain habits,
because whatever we think about the most grows."
- Dr. Caroline Leaf
I am fascinated with topics of quantum physics, our minds, and brains. I say, "Mind" and "Brain" separately, because Dr. Leaf makes a very interesting distinction between the two:
THE MIND
"The Brain is part of the Physical Body and therefore is controlled by the Mind. The Mind does not emerge from an accumulation of Brain activity. Brain activity, rather, reflects Mind activity. Even though the Mind controls the Brain, the Brain feeds back to, and influences, the Mind. The Brain seats the Mind, and therefore the Mind influences the Physical world through the Brain."
Source: Drleaf.com
And just because I'm a nerd, I'm going to add another quote from the lovely Doctor:
NEUROPLASTICITY
There is mounting recent evidence for Neuroplasticity, that is, the ability of the Brain to change according to experience[12]. The anatomy and physiology of the Human Brain is much more malleable and plastic than we once thought. This shows that the Brain changes according to how we use it. The saying ‘Use it or lose it’, which is usually applied to the Musculo-skeletal system, can now be applied to the Brain as well. Thinking, a Mind activity, effects gene expression. Gene expression produces proteins. Proteins are fashioned into structural elements and enzymes (biological catalysts), which change Brain anatomy (structure) and physiology (function). Therefore thinking changes Brain structure and function.
Source: Drleaf.com
So I share this science lesson with a point in view. As single people, what occupies a majority of our 30,000 thoughts that we might have during the day? Are we constantly looking at what we perceive as romantic lack? Or are we thankful (beginning in our thought life) for the dreams that we are able to whole heartedly pursue in this season of life and are we hopeful for good things to come?
We now know that thoughts, in essence are alive and can leave behind tangible evidence in our bodies, good or bad.
Let's just let that sink in for a moment.
Yes, those invisible things that no one else sees being produced in your head, are not as hidden and secretive as you'd like to believe.
Everything that's hidden eventually comes to light...
And our thought life is no different.
I remember being devastated and I mean DEVASTATED, to learn at 11 years old that God could read our thoughts and already knew the true condition of our hearts. I mean, I knew how to fool all the adults and kids with my outward demeanor. But you mean, God could see past my facade? Ahhhhhhh! #toomuchtoosoon
But ultimately that reality freed me up.
From that point on, I always lived with the awareness that I'm being seen, and nothing is truly hidden. I think that's what propelled me to write and to write honestly. It's no coincidence that I started writing in a journal that same year I received such a revelation as a part of an individual class project, given by the lovely Mrs. Fry. And it was then that I was told that I had a propensity for writing.
But I poured my little 11 year old heart out in that little journal. The highs and lows of elementary school life. You know how it is. It gets rough out there.
But I learned to share my thoughts. My true thoughts. And I learned to bring the scary and confusing thoughts to God. And it's something I continue to practice to this day.
I invite you to be aware of your thought life. It's not too late to change your 'stinkin thinkin'. And I'm not just talking about getting on the 'positive thinking' bandwagon, I'm talking about bringing an honest heart before God and people. There's healing in that. And there's restoration waiting for you.
I've not yet learned to take every thought captive. I mean, I usually write about it--the struggle here on this blog. But even though the odds may often seem stacked against you, proclaim a better story and ask for a heart to truly believe it.
Because your propensity to receive and give love is intrinsically connected to the way in which you've experienced and thought about love in the past or the lack thereof.
But it's time to prepare yourself for a better story-- a better love story.
Let it begin now, with your thought life. And may shift give way to a beautiful and powerful legacy full of love.