Skip to main content

“We have been taught to believe that our feelings and emotions are determined by the events in our lives.”

A thought by David Stoop from his book, You Are What You Think (Kindle Location 217). Kindle
Edition.

An example would be, the reason why I am lonely is because I have no friends.  The truth is many people are lonely with many friends and some aren’t lonely who have no friends.  The having or not having friends doesn’t mean I am lonely.

I am unhappy because I am single.  Many married people are also unhappy.  I would feel deep satisfaction if I got that promotion.  You get the promotion and you’re still not satisfied.

The key word in there is the word, believe.  Our thoughts, our self-talk, our beliefs determine our feelings and emotions not the events in our lives.

Let’s say someone says they will call you and set up a time for the two of you to get together and you are very excited about it.  But let’s say they don’t call you as soon as you think you should and you start feeling very hurt and very depressed.  Now the fact that they haven’t called you isn’t the key to your emotions, it’s your belief why they haven’t called.  “There must be something wrong with me.”  “I wouldn’t want to be with me either.”  “They found someone better to be with.”  Or you could think, “Something must have come up.”  “I wonder if something is wrong.”  “They aren’t the kind of person to just forget, something has happened.”  “They will call me, they said they would.”  

Your response to the situation is the key to whether you take it personal or you give them the benefit of the doubt.  Your self-talk determines whether they/you come out a winner or loser.

Your self-talk, what you believe determines your feelings about a situation.

You interview for a job and you don’t get it.  If you believe that God works all things out for your good then that determines your lasting feelings about it.  Yes you may be disappointed but not for very long because you believe that God is good and He has a plan for you. 

So it is imperative to have good foundational beliefs about yourself and about your life.  Your emotions depend on it.

So how are you feeling?
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“Hurry and love are incompatible.”

A thought by John Mark Comer from his book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (p. 23). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Wow, pretty strong thought isn’t it? John says, “All my worst moments as a father, a husband, and a pastor, even as a human being, are when I’m in a hurry—late for an appointment, behind on my unrealistic to-do list, trying to cram too much into my day. I ooze anger, tension, a critical nagging—the antitheses of love. If you don’t believe me, next time you’re trying to get your type B wife and three young, easily distracted children out of the house and you’re running late (a subject on which I have a wealth of experience), just pay attention to how you relate to them. Does it look and feel like love? Or is it far more in the vein of agitation, anger, a biting comment, a rough glare? Hurry and love are oil and water: they simply do not mix.” He goes on, “Hence, in the apostle P...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Lie 2: The more you worry about it, the better your odds of avoiding it."

A thought by Louie Giglio in his book,   Winning the War on Worry    (p. 5). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon to buy the book.) Here is another lie that the Enemy uses with us. And Louie says, "This is a tricky lie. Yes, we often have cause for concern and preparation. But the Enemy wants you to believe that if you worry or fret over a certain outcome long enough, you can keep something bad from happening." But this is so important to realize. He says, "The reality is worrying has never once prevented something negative from happening. Planning might. Prayer has. But worry never will." He continues, "The Enemy tells you that by worrying about a situation (or every situation) you can make your tomorrow better. Really, worry just robs you of today. Jesus implored us: 'I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

“The gospel is good news, not good advice.”

A thought by Timothy Keller (2016-10-25) from his book, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (p. 21). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) I’m glad you stopped to catch a glimpse of what this thought really means. Tim says, “Advice is counsel about what you must do. News is a report about what has already been done. Advice urges you to make something happen. News urges you to recognize something that has already happened and to respond to it. Advice says it is all up to you to act. News says someone else has acted.” He then gives an illustration, “Let’s say there is an invading army coming toward a town. What that town needs is military advisers; it needs advice. Someone should explain that the earthworks and trenches should go over there, the marksmen go up there, and the tanks must go down there.”   That’s advice He goes on, “However, if a great king has intercepted and ...
Post a Comment
Read more