Written By Alan Good
In the last edition we covered how the road to peace and calmness is making the best use of what is in your power, accepting the rest as it comes.
“The thing that upsets people is not what happens but what they think it means,” stated Greek philosopher, Epictetus.
A lot of time it’s not the problem we face that causes stress and disease in our bodies, it is how we view life’s challenges that bring us down.
The Bible states, “A heart at peace gives life to the body… (Prov. 14:30), while negative emotions (thoughts) “rot the bones”. Further on, in Proverbs 17:22, it states, “A cheerful heart is good medicine…”
Replaying the same pictures, ones of how we are aging, are powerless, have aches and pains, and so on, really cause more issues. But, once you are aware of these habits of thought that lead to negative reactions, you can begin to substitute new ones.
Rather than replay, “I am old and not what I was”, try, “I am alive, I can move and do more than I thought I could”. It is impossible to hold opposite thoughts in mind at the same time. Remember the word, “neuroplasticity”, or how the brain can change in response to stimuli? When you change your thoughts, you will change how you feel, and eventually how your body responds.
Cognitive decline is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Rather, I think most people simply do not give themselves the kinds of mental challenges that brains need to retain their functionality.
American Psychologist Martin Seligman studied differences between persons prone to depression following setbacks in life and those who bounced back from them. He found the critical difference to be in “explanatory style”—how people explain rejections and defeats to themselves. Pessimists interpret them as confirmation of their own failings and lack of worth, while optimists do not see them as permanent and do not let them affect their sense of self-worth.
To change, first be gentle with yourself. Thoughts come and go and shouldn’t be judged. Remember thoughts are real, but not true. Thinking you are worthless, isn’t true. You are of worth. Perhaps you need to get out and get involved. There are community and religious venues where you can do something.
Do not try to stop negative thinking or imagery. Instead, practice substituting positive thoughts and images that evoke feelings of happiness and security. Remember that it takes practice to change mental habits. Just keep at it.
If you find this hard to do on your own, consider working with a cognitive therapist, even for just a few sessions. It can be an effective short-term strategy for improving mental health.
As you practice the substitution of positive thinking for negative thinking, it will gradually become the dominant habit. Your heart will become lighter, and life will be sweeter.
