You Are What You ThinkSample

FIVE THINGS MENTALLY STRONG PEOPLE AVOID

All of us have struggled at times with negative thoughts, either from learned patterns in our relationships or from distorted perspectives we’ve picked up along the way.

You’ve probably noticed that you can’t really change your behavior without changing your thoughts. Scripture urges us to change our thinking to renew our minds (Romans 12:2).

I recently read a list on LifeHack by Amy Morin on things mentally strong people avoid. It reminded me of renewing one’s mind to be all you can be for God. I want to share five of my favorite headings from her list but include my thoughts::

1) Avoid spending energy on things you can’t control. Mentally strong people don’t complain about bad situations beyond their control. They recognize the one thing they can always control is their own attitude.  Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think on these things.”

2) Avoid dwelling on the past. There is strength in acknowledging the past, especially in things learned from the past. . . but a mentally strong person avoids letting past mistakes define them.  They invest the majority of their energy in the present and the future.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

3) Avoid giving up after failure. Every failure is a chance for improvement. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

4) Avoid resenting other people’s success. It takes strength of character to genuinely feel joy and excitement for other people’s success. The heart of 1 Corinthians 13 says love rejoices with others.  Love doesn’t become jealous or resentful when others succeed.

5) Avoid worrying about pleasing others. Know any people pleasers?  People who go out of their way to please others? Who want approval? People who are mentally strong are able to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset with them, even if they speak up.

Will you join me in becoming mentally strong by aligning your thought life with God’s truth so you can be who you were created to be in Christ?