Do you categorize emotions as "good" or "bad"? If so, you may want to reconsider that approach after watching the TED talk at the link below.
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Categorizing Thoughts as Good or Bad
Consider for a moment whether categorizing thoughts into categories of good and bad is a helpful or counterproductive process for you. For some people, noticing your internal resistance can be a helpful practice to discover the root of an area in your life that is ready for another layer of healing from the Lord.
Take a few minutes to read or listen to the list of “good” thought categories listed in Philippians 4:8. Notice which item on the list you feel the most interior resistance towards. Try to approach this practice with curiosity instead of judgment. You might ask yourself questions like...
I wonder why I have some resistance to this when it is clearly God’s plan for a healthy thought life?
What has been my past experience with thoughts in this category?
Have I had a previous traumatic experience with this category of thought which causes me to have a default reaction of self-protection in order to prevent a recurrence of trauma?
Is it possible that there is some hidden sin pattern causing resistance that I am unconsciously hesitant to let go of?
If this practice is helpful for you, you may experiment with flipping it around. Make a list of your “bad” thought patterns then ask yourself opposite questions to discover the root of what feeds those thoughts.
I wonder why I feel drawn to these thoughts when it is clearly not God’s plan for a healthy thought life?
What has been my past experience with thoughts in this category?
Have I had a previous traumatic experience that has birthed this category of thought, causing me to have a default reaction of self-protection in order to prevent a recurrence of trauma?
Is it possible that there is some hidden sin pattern feeding these thoughts that I am unconsciously hesitant to let go of?
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Our Emerge retreat in June is on the topic The Language of Emotions. Your emotions are talking to you. What are they saying? Are you listening? Listening to our heart increases our awareness of how we are responding to God, ourselves, others and the events and direction of our lives. Attentiveness to the messages of our emotions can bring us to a place of forgiveness, healing and hope. During this retreat we will practice listening to our hearts in the presence of the Holy Spirit during times of silence and solitude and learn practices that can help us stay attuned to the important messages our emotions are trying to tell us. Emerge: The Language of Emotions 06.26.21, 9AM - Noon Crooked Creek Retreat Center Cost: $25 Click here to register or just send me the registration fee on Venmo, Cash App, Zelle or PayPal and we'll get you on the list! ________________________ We also explore emotional wellbeing during one of our sessions in Wholly Yours, our whole person weight loss program. We will be starting two new Wholly Yours groups this summer, one that will meet weekly on Thursday evenings and one that will meet biweekly on Saturday mornings. If you're interested, we'd love to have you check out our introductory Wholeness Meditation & Creative Practice which will be offered twice this month. During this event you will have an opportunity to notice your current state of holistic wellbeing, including your emotional life. Wholeness Meditation & Creative Practice 06.19.21 Saturday 10:00 AM 06.24.21 Thursday 6:30 PM Cost: $10 Click here to register or just send me the registration fee on Venmo, Cash App, Zelle or PayPal and we'll get you on the list! Wholly Yours: A Whole Person Approach to Weight Loss Cost: $25/week Thursday Group Every Thursday, 6:30 PM 07.01.21 - 08.05.21 Saturday Group Every Other Saturday, 10:00 AM 07.03.21 - 09.11.21 Click here for a complete schedule of group sessions.