Are you one of those people who find yourself ruminating about a conversation or event? Ruminations often turn into repetitive thought programs. And these thought programs, after a while, become embedded in our subconscious minds and are hard to let go of. That is why, it’s important to reflect daily on what it is you are taking in and internalizing. A lot of what we digest and assimilate into our being does not add value to our lives. Matter of fact, it’s downright harmful.
Ruminating non-stop is actually why so many people are suffering from a personal identity crisis.
Repetitive thought programs often have at their nucleus, a pain point. That pain point revolves around a growing sense of lack. Lack of what? You name it. It could be that you keep telling yourself you lack well-being, security, hope, friendships, wealth, joy, etc. The list is often endless. When anyone tells themself that they are lacking something enough times, they begin to believe it even when it may not be true. I had a fear of poverty the size of Mt. Rushmore. It was something I truly believed was my own. But it wasn’t. I simply repeated and replayed stories told to me – stories that had to do with my parent’s impoverished beginnings. These narratives became embedded in my subconscious brain and from there, they felt as if they were mine. I was telling myself a lie.
Like a crouching monster trying to steal what is yours, negative, repetitive, self-limiting thought programs will breed a whole host of unkind emotions, the least of which is fear. This leads to restlessness, anxiety and even depression. All of this has a boomerang effect. This is how words and thoughts can change you and your life.
When you replay certain narratives and harmful thought programs, you are only hurting yourself. That is because in doing so, you are re-traumatizing yourself. No one other than you is to blame for keeping all this pain and garbage contained inside of you. The containment of these thought programs is what is responsible for the mounting regrets, mistakes and misfortunes in people’s lives.
If you are telling yourself that someone or something outside of you is responsible for where you are in life and how you feel, this is your call to action. You’ve turned over your power to someone or something.
It takes both human and Divine intervention to experience real change and transformational healing. It is through our weakness that God can shine. But you need to humble yourself before Him and ask for His healing hands upon you. How do you do this? Call out to Him. Repent. Ask Him to come into your life as your personal savior. What you can’t do, God can.
What do negative, repetitive thought programs sound like? Here are a few examples.
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“I was born at the wrong time, and to the wrong parents.”
“I’m always having to submit to the drives, desires and intentions of others.”
“It isn’t my fault.”
“I didn’t do anything bad.”
“I’m right.”
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“Why me?”
“I’m a survivor!”
“I would have never married that man, chosen that career path, put on weight, started drinking if only my mom, dad or ex-husband did or didn’t do….”
“It was his fault that this happened to me and I am the way I am.”
“I’ll never get the dream job, get out of debt, kick this addiction, lose weight…”
“Everything worthwhile I start, I never finish.”
“This world is wrecked and there is nothing I can do about it.”
“I’m damaged because my parents were.”
“I’m unlovable.”
“I don’t know how to forgive.”
“I’m afraid to take risks because I might lose everything.”
“I’m a loner.”
“I’m overly sensitive, vulnerable and can’t protect myself.”
“I give up on trying to do good because there’s no point.”
“I hate so-and-so.”
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What are the emotions that these thought programs produce?
-Anxiety
-Worry
-Anger
-Depression
-Obsession
-Compulsion
-Jealousy
-Scarcity
-Discouragement
-Disappointment
-Foreboding
-Timidity
-Mistrust
-Depression
-A nagging sense of unease
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“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.” Hugh Downs
