PART 3: LIVING ABOVE ANXIETY

FINALLY FREE FROM TOXIC THINKING!

After this pandemic year, my husband and I are looking forward to a live visit with our grandchildren. “Look how you’ve grown,” are always my first words to them.

In one glance, I see their physical maturity. During our visit, I will notice other signs of growth. Their language development, TV shows, snacks, and clothing all show their levels of matureness.

However, our grandchildren’s parents experience their child’s growth differently from my occasional assessment. They are daily assisting and influencing the youngster’s growth development. Then, weeks later, he uses his fingers to add. She is off to college. He needs a larger-sized sneaker!

The parent’s experience illustrates God’s role in transforming our wounded emotions. As you read this post, you will discover a simple two-step cycle to find peace of mind and stay emotionally healthy. 

Confrontational Thoughts

We all are confronted by negative thoughts. When we begin to fixate on negative thinking, it becomes toxic thinking. Toxic thoughts are false beliefs that negatively affect you and those around you. This way of thinking can make us depressed, anxious, pessimistic, and sometimes challenging to get along with. Confrontational Thoughts

You may never struggle with toxic thinking. Great! This simple healing cycle still works for whatever emotional problem you struggle with.

Simply replace your problem with the word “toxic thinking” in the two steps below. Remember, the two steps are cyclical; go back and forth between the stages as much and as long as you need. 

A Two-Step Cycle of Healing

1.Own Up

Unhealthy thought patterns originate from past traumatizing experiences. My problem began as a child growing up in alcoholism. In families affected by addictions, putting on a “brave face” to hide fear and shame is common.

I always wore a brave face in public. But underneath the mask, I was hurting. Eventually, I realized my depression and negative thinking was rooted in fearfulness. After admitting this to myself and then to God, my healing began.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step in fixing the problem. Stop pretending things are going well when they are not. The first step in any of the 12-Step Programs for Recovery begins with admitting we have a problem.

“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1st Peter 5:6-7)

2.Only Trust God 

We need help outside of ourselves to recover from toxic thinking. After realizing fear was driving the anxiety and depression in my life, I needed a safe place to unload years of pain. So, I set out to find healing.

As a believer, I was dedicated to the church and eagerly received the prayers for healing from my church leaders. I attended counseling, support groups and voraciously read self-help books. All were very helpful in my spiritual journey. However, years later, toxic thinking, along with depression and anxiety, still transpired in my life.

Finally, when it came to changing the person I had become, I looked to my creator. I trusted only God for healing. In turn, he would lead me wherever and however he chose for additional help. 

We should request prayer for healing. We should relentlessly seek self-help. However, we must understand the first source of our support, healing, and recovery is always God. Start with Him, and follow His lead. 

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds..” (Psalms 147:3)

Like a growing child, the positive changes you want to see in yourself may occur in tiny increments. Your rate of change will depend on the extent and severity of your emotional problem.

Know that God is healing you, leading you, and guiding you by His Spirit. Soon, you will see how much you’ve grown.

God bless you as you learn to live above anxiety. Thank you for your comments and encouraging emails. We love hearing from you, and your input helps us to grow. To leave a comment, click here.