Every human struggles with bad thoughts. The truth is, our thoughts either help us or hurt us. There’s no in between.
Did you know the brain is the only organ in the human body that governs identity and personality? Over 90% of our wellbeing is directly influenced by the way we think. So when our minds run on autopilot, we unknowingly hand the reins to our “bad thoughts.”
The science is straightforward: our thoughts send electrical currents through our brains, which in turn release neurochemicals. These neurochemicals directly influence our moods. Our emotional state influences our everyday habits and decisions.
Thoughts become feelings, feelings become actions, and actions ultimately determine our character (who we are). Who we are determines our life trajectory. This makes sense on a practical level. If someone wants to build a meaningful life, then all they need to do is change their thoughts, right?
Awareness is Essential
On the surface, the problem has a simple solution: Just think better thoughts. But we unconsciously train our brains to think and believe certain negative thoughts. Before we realize it, we’re stuck in unhelpful, even harmful thought patterns.
Negative, irrational thoughts can become a prison. On the flip side, true, constructive thoughts are our keys to freedom. If you want to live a healthy life, it’s crucial to exchange irrational thoughts with true, rational ones.
We become trapped in negative emotional states because our brains become addicted to the neurochemicals our “bad thoughts” trigger. The good news is, it’s possible to retrain your brain, helping it to become healthier in the process. But before you can retrain your thoughts, you must first become aware of them.
As We Think, So We Are
How we think becomes habitual, to the point we become stuck. We can’t recognize that we’ve formed a habit. Rather than tuning into what we think and eradicating the lies, we go through life on autopilot. Left unchecked, lies dictate our daily decisions and wreck our emotional state.
The way you speak to yourself determines your emotional state. The messages you repeat to yourself eventually become your brain’s highest-priority messages. Chronic fear, worry, anxiety, and loneliness are all results of how we train our brains. Scripture aligns with science to reinforce this truth. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (NKJV).
Your Roadmap to Healthier Thoughts
I (Les) teamed up with pastor Judah Smith to bring you Bad Thoughts, an all-new book based on this simple premise: You are what you think. We combine practical, scientific reasoning and research with a scriptural approach, guiding you to begin retraining your thoughts for the better—and transform your relationships and life experiences in the process.
When you infuse your thoughts with truth, you’ll tap into more joy and empathy. You’ll extend more grace to others. You’ll find yourself living from a place of greater love and contentment, which is good for you and everyone you encounter.
Bad Thoughts reveals the five most common destructive thoughts we’re vulnerable to. This book will help you:
- Let go of false guilt and discover the road to grace
- Cure your disease to please and cultivate authentic relationships
- Extinguish self-doubt and rekindle your confidence
- Put pride in its place and embrace humility
- Quit questioning your personal value and receive God’s gift of love
Ultimately, overcoming destructive thoughts transforms your life, faith, and health from the inside out. As scripture says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” Romans 12:2 (NIV).
You don’t have to be at the mercy of your thoughts. Instead, you can gain control over them. You just need to know how. That’s exactly what we’ll teach you in the pages of Bad Thoughts. Learn more and pre-order your copy here.
Have you struggled with negative thinking? How did you overcome the pattern? Let us know in the comments.
