Just One Thing

Many people including myself included, have multiple areas of life they would like to improve. For example. I would like to reach more people with my writing, be able to swim more laps at the gym and practice mindfulness more consistently. Those are just a few of the goals I find desirable and you probably have a long list yourself.

The problem is, even if we are committed to working hard on our goals, our natural tendency is to revert back to our old habits at some point. Making a permanent lifestyle change is really difficult.

My pastor is starting a one thing group. That will make these difficult lifestyle changes a little easier. As you’ll see, the approach to mastering many areas of life is possible

Too Many Good Intentions

If you want to master multiple habits and stick to them for good, then you need to figure out how to be consistent.

How can you do that?

Here is one of the more robust findings on how to actually follow through with you goals.

Research has shown us that we are 2X more likely to stick with our habits if we make a specific plan for when, where, and how we will perform the behavior. For example, in one study it asked people to fill out this sentence: During the week, I will partake in at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise on a certain day at this time at this place.

The study found that people who filled out this sentence were 2X more likely to actually exercise compared to a group who did not make plans for their future behavior. These are called implementation intentions because they state when, where, and how you intend to implement a particular behavior.

These Implementation intentions only work if you focus on one thing at a time. People who tried to accomplish multiple goals were less committed and less likely to succeed than those who focused on a single goal.

It is important to develop a specific plan for when, where, and how to stick to a new habit will dramatically increase the odds that you will actually follow through, but only if you focus on one thing.

What happens when you focus on one thing

When you begin practicing a new habit it requires a lot of conscious effort to remember to do it. After a while, however, the pattern of behavior becomes easier. Eventually, your new habit becomes a normal routine and the process is more or less mindless and automatic.

This is called automaticity it’s the ability to perform a behavior without thinking about each step, which allows the pattern and habitual.

Automaticity only occurs as a result of lots of repetition and practice. The more reps you put in the more automatic a behavior becomes.

The most important thing to note is that there is some “tipping point” at which new habit becomes more or less automatic. It takes time to build a habit and it depends on many factors including how difficult the habit is, what your environment is like, your genetics, and more.

It is said the average habit takes about 66 days to become automatic. But, don’t put too much stock in that number. The range is very wide and the only reasonable conclusion you should make is that it will take a few months for new habits to stick.

At this just one thing group, I am doing we will have accountability partners that will help us along the way.

If you decide to make this one thing a part of your goal system. Hang in there and don’t give up. The change will come. Choose an accountability partner. And look forward to just one goal success you will find.

Complaining And The Holy Spirit

I’ve been complaining about the heat and how I feel lately, I was meditating in the Lord last night and I was convicted by the spirit. Unfortunately I am not the only one complaining.

If we have a complaining Spirit we will never hear from the Holy Spirit.

Negativity is nothing new. Since Adam and Eve were banished from the garden, life has been hard and we have been complaining about it. (Genesis 3:23) it is the nature of sinful humans to live for ourselves and to complain when our desires are not being met. (Galatians 5:19-20) We tend to argue for our rights, demand our way, and oppose anyone who disagrees with us. That combination results in a Spirit of negativity toward the world and life in general. It is understandable if those who do not know Christ are negative. They have no hope of anything beyond this world and it’s confusion. But negativity in a Christian’s attitude means they are refusing to see life from God’s perspective. When we join in with hostility, pride, and complaining, we are reacting the same way unbelievers do.

Unfortunately, God’s people are often just as guilty of negativity and grumbling as those who don’t know God. We often forget Jesus’s words, “In this world we will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the World” (John 16:33) Negativity was one of the Israelites gravest sins after God brought them out of Egypt, parted the Read Sea, and destroyed their enemies with a single, crashing wave. (Exodus 14:16-18) Yet as soon as the Israelites weren’t getting what they wanted they began to grumble against God. (Numbers 14:27) Rather than rejoice over all God had done for them and trust that He would continue to provide, they mormured and complained. The Lord hears when we do that, and it greatly displeases Him. (1 Corinthians 10:10-11; John 6:43)

There is a difference between being grieved over sin and being negative. Someone who agrees with God over the gravity of sin also agrees with God that we shouldn’t something about it. When God saw the evil desperation of humanity, He did something about it. ( John 3:16) Jesus came to show us what God is like and to get involved in our messy world (John 14:9) He was not afraid to “roll up His sleeves and get His hands dirty.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) As His body (1 Corinthians 12:27) we remain to carry on the work He modeled for us.

Christians can counter the doom-and-gloom mentally with a gentle, loving, faith-filled approach to life. ( Ephesians 4:32; John 5:14) We can refuse to be caught up in the hopelessness and the me-first mentality that is too normal in this world (Philippians 2 14-15) We can offer light in the darkness, (Matthew 5:14) truth amid satan’s deception. ( John 17:17) and hope in the face of despair ( Psalm 43:5; 1 Peter 4: 12-16) gives us some clear guidelines about facing trouble. Peter says, “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice in so much as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddle. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”

Christians are to model a better approach to life. In the beatitudes in Luke 6:20-23, Jesus gave us a glimpse into that better life. Timothy 4-12 tells us to “set an example for the believers in speech, in comfort, in love, in faith, and purity.” It is important to always keep in mind that, for the unbeliever, this world is as close to hell as we will ever be. When we live with that as our focus, we have the tools to combat the negativity of the world, and model the abundant life Jesus came to give us. (John 10:10)

The Key To Confidence

What is the key to confidence?

Confidence is our greatest personal resource. With it, we can face any situation knowing we can handle it. Without it, we are destined to suffer. Without confidence any situation has the potential to be a threat. Think about having to do anything from the smallest task to the most complex job without confidence. You question your ability and stress constantly. Fearing you will not be able to handle it, you may actually sabotage your ability to get it done. Instead of facing the yaks, you retreat, avoid, or procrastinate. Maybe you confront the task, but without believing in yourself you over-think it, over-do-it, or tremble through the process all the while doubting yourself.

Confidence is essential to making it in life. It enables us to reach for our goals, try new things, and stand independently. It protects us from stress and equips us to face life’s challenges. Confidence comes from believing in yourself. It come from recognizing that you are your greatest resource.

Believing means you unconditionally accept that you are both capable and desirable. Acknowledging you are capable means you are good enough, competent, and able to handles life’s situations.

Admitting you are capable also means knowing that if you cannot handle a situation completely on your own; you know or can find out where to get the necessary help, information, or skill. Acknowledging you are desirable means you understand you are attractive, likable, decent person. It means you accept this regardless of anyone’s contrary opinion.

Knowing you are your greatest resource protects you from stress. Believing you are capable and desirable, you are now free to face life’s stresses calmly and confidently. It means whatever task, no matter how overwhelming, large or small, you will handle it and whatever the social situation, no how positive, negative or neutral, you will know nothing can negate that you are a desirable person. Now believing in you, you can face life with complete assurance. That is the self-confidence we seek to achieve.

Ways To Change Your Mindset And Attitude

Are you wondering how to change your mindset?

Are you in contact of your thoughts?

Do you feel stuck in a rut of constant complaining and can’t find anything positive to think about?

Your mindset and the way you perceive things is your lens to see the world. Every thought we have trains our brain to see what we tell it to.

If your a complainer… your brain is trained to find things wrong with your life, your relationships, and your world. Whether you realize it or not you are constantly telling your brain what chemicals to make, what to look for, and how to feel.

The way you view your environment is vital to changing your mindset.

How To Change Your Mindset And Attitude

Ten years ago I couldn’t see and possibilities for me life.

My brain as trained to find disappointment and road blocks. I actually thought that other people were lucky and had opportunities handed to them.

I didn’t see I had the same opportunities as other people. I had told my brain, not realizing it, to make excuses for why I wouldn’t do things. I felt like I wasn’t good enough, I didn’t have enough training and that I would fail if I tried to move forward.

When I began to change my mindset and attitude it was a painful process because my mind wanted to think the old way it was used to thinking and I wanted it to make some new path, think a new way.

I had to constantly re-enforce my mind the way I wanted to think. It was like training a wild animal.

It was stubborn and wanted to do what it had always done.

Finally, I found some ways that I could start to change my mindset and attitude and eventually see my life start to change.

If you tell your mind to think about something sad, you will make chemicals in response to that, if you daydream about something exciting you will make brain chemistry to fit that daydream.

Our minds are powerful and you’ve get to tell your mind what to think about.

That’s a concept that many people struggle with. You actually have power over what you think about. You get to decide what you daydream about, dwell on and what you spend your time thinking about.

Take Time To Notice Your Thoughts

This may sound silly but if you are not aware of what your thinking about m you can’t change it. Pay attention to what you daydream about, pay attention to what you say to yourself throughout the day.

How do you react when someone cuts you off in traffic. What are your default thoughts that fly through your head?

You probably have some areas of your life that are going well and you think positively about and then there are some areas where you could use some work.

You can’t change something you don’t know is there. Try to step back and listen to what your mind is saying. See the thoughts in your head. Becoming aware of your thoughts is the first step to changing your mindset.

Grab Those Bad Thoughts

When you see a bad thought such as “I am so ugly” or “I failed last time so I will just fail again” you need to grab those thoughts and push them out of your head. You don’t have time in your life to entertain bad thoughts.

You don’t have the mental energy to pour into creating bad brain chemistry.

Stop those bad thoughts before you go down a road of depression and worry. Right, when a bad thought comes into your head you need to take control of that thought and say NO!

Do not let that bad thought take root and create a reality you never intended for yourself.

Replace The Bad Thought With The Truth

To change your mindset and attitude you need to introduce a New thought full of truth. Normally the truth is the opposite of a lie. So whatever your bad thought is…the truth is usually the opposite.

Here are a few examples:

When the thought “I am ugly” comes to your mind you have to immediately replace it with “I am beautiful.” It may not feel true but it is true. You are beautiful. You have to force yourself to think and say the truth.

It can be painful at first, if you are used to believing lies.

When I am a failure comes into your head you have to say NO! just because I failed in the past doesn’t mean I will fail again. It’s sometimes a minute by minute process of forcing yourself to think a different way.

To change your mindset and attitude you have to be intentional and make your brain find the truth.

It’s good to take time to write does lies you are believing and then find the opposite, find the truth and write that down too. You will be able to see on paper what you are believing is a lie and you can see what is true.

You would not believe how many times I wrote down the bad thoughts in my head and put them on the walls of my house. So every time I thought that bad thought I could counteract it with the truth. That’s what worked for me. Speak truth over your thoughts.

If you don’t like your life, it’s time to have new thoughts, it’s really that simple.