If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

We all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.
Marcus Aurelius

We need to stop thinking so much
about what others are thinking,
and start thinking about
what we’re thinking.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians reminds us that Jesus can help us live a life of radical love and resilience in the face of adversity.

The way we think impacts the way we live.

Philippians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned by the Roman Empire sometime between 60-62 AD.

For Paul, the gospel (the good news about Jesus) is not merely a message to be proclaimed; it is a life to be lived. And that life is characterized by joy, even in the midst of suffering. This is not a superficial happiness that denies the reality of pain and sorrow, but a deep-seated confidence that God is at work in all things to bring about his good purposes. It is this joy that permeates the letter to the Philippians and that Paul wants his readers to experience for themselves.
Dr. Moisés Silva

Mindsets & Habits

There is a connection between what we believe, what we think, and how we act.

Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. What we think shapes who we are… So if both the Bible and modern science teach us (this), then we need to ask ourselves, “Do I like the direction my thoughts are taking me?”
Craig Groeschel

We need to understand that our thinking is real and has real effects on the brain. If we don’t manage our mind, we can fall into the trap of living in a “nether world” where everything feels terrible and hopeless and there’s a sense of anxiety constantly hovering over us. That relationship, that work situation, that political situation, that traffic jam, those family members. It feels like they are all conspiring against us.
Dr. Caroline Leaf

Thought – “think about such things”
⬇️
Action – “put it into practice”
⬇️
Experience – “the God of peace will be with you”

Toxic Positivity
The overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state that results in the denial, minimization, and invalidation of the authentic human emotional experience.

Examples of Toxic Positivity
• Ignoring, hiding, downplaying, or dismissing your emotions or real feelings.
• Feeling bad, guilty, or shameful for how you feel.
• Putting on a “game face” to the world when you feel differently inside.
• Pretending everything is okay when it’s not.
• Minimizing others’ emotions.
• Shaming people for having negative emotions.
• Invalidating someone’s experience by not acknowledging the real issue/pain/frustration.

One thing is certain: if you don’t shape your life, it will be shaped for you. And to shape your life, you need to know how to shape your mind—you need mind management.
Dr. Caroline Leaf

Whatever is true
Whatever is honorable
Whatever is just
Whatever is pure
Whatever is lovely
Whatever is commendable
If there is any excellence
If there is anything worthy of praise

Focus on what is true and what is good.

Truth is what corresponds with reality.

Truth is what corresponds with reality, as defined by God.

Truth is what corresponds with reality, as defined by God, as revealed in Jesus.

Jesus doesn't give us all the answers, but he gives us what we need to know about:
• God
• Ourselves
• How to Experience the Good Life

The way we think impacts the way we live.