There is only ONE person who can control your mind… YOU! Over the past few weeks I have been reflecting on Mindset Shifts and it’s really amazing how, once your mind is tuned into something, you begin to see it everywhere.

Our minds are shaped by our environment and experiences. People, places, and pain all impact on who we are and who we become. And yet, even two individuals who have been brought up in the same environment by the same people, will be shaped differently, it all depends on how they individually process their experiences and choose to respond.

Two brothers were raised by an alcoholic father. One grew up to be an alcoholic and one refused to drink any alcohol at all. When asked what happened, each responded: “I watched my father!”

Neuroplasticity is defined as the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury.

Our thoughts actually produce chemicals which essentially cause our body to FEEL what we are THINKING. Positive thoughts release dopamine which result in a feeling of joyfulness. Negative thoughts flood our body with cortisol which trigger feelings of anger, frustration and aggression.

I am reminded of Philippians 4:8 where Paul encourages the people of Philippi to think on good and positive things in order that their minds may be filled with The Peace of God…

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

We are who we tell ourselves we are… Proverbs 23:7 tells us this…

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…

We tend to make statements about ourselves without even realising that we are framing who we are in what we say…

“I am an anxious person” no, you are NOT and anxious person, but you have framed your mind to believe that you are. Through effective techniques, anxiety can be managed and even eliminated.

“I am always late!” NO, your mind may be prone to responding at the last minute, causing you to be late, but you can actively take control of this behaviour and change it.

Our frequent and consistent responses to a trigger create a habit in our minds. Think about how we have all become accustomed to sanitise so frequently throughout the day, this has been a habit that has been reinforced by repetition.

Fear is often a major barrier to change. Fear of hurt, loss, failure, etc. based on past experiences or weakened minds.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

This is something we need to print and read daily! We have been given a SOUND MIND, not a broken, anxious and fearful one. It is the enemy that introduces fear to hinder and obstruct us from all the good plans that God has for our lives. The enemy has no power to change these plans but he can certainly detract us from them if he is successful in warping our minds to believe that we are broken, incapable, useless and crippled with fear.

It is so important to know the word of God and what He says about us in His word. By looking to the word, we are able to replace every negative thought with not just a positive thought, but a promise. Let me give you a few examples:

• “I lost my job, I am going to lose everything” – And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
• “There is nothing special about me” – I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:14)
• “I will never get over this” – Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
• “No one loves me” – I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. (Jeremiah 31:3)

We need to consciously and consistently learn to replace every negative thought with a promise from the word of God and silence the voice of the enemy in our lives.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:12

Wherever our mind goes, our feet will follow…