Train Your Brain

This is a blog about radical thought change


Everything begins with thought.


Neuroscientists have been able, through brain imaging, to see a "thought" occur in the brain. It is a process. When the "thought" occurs, a chemical is released and it runs along an electrical "circuit" in the brain. If we have the same thought often enough, it creates a pathway in the brain, thus habitual ways of thinking occur, and we say certain thoughts and behaviors become "engrained" in us. It means we have had that thought often, and it becomes an automatic way of thinking; it is a well established neurological pathway in the brain.


I  once saw a television commercial saying we have 3,000 thoughts a day. When I survey the random thoughts that go through my mind, I realize much of it is meaningless "chatter". And I am dismayed that many of my thoughts are judgemental. I do not consider myself a judgemental person and if you spoke with people who know me well, they would say I am very compassionate, accepting, and tolerant.  So, the judgements and negative thoughts I try not to "judge". I try to view them objectively. They are just thoughts and I have the opportunity to change them, if I wish. That's where the brain training starts. I have 3,000 opportunities every day to CHANGE MY THOUGHTS. To me, this is empowering and exciting. If I don't like the thought I am having, I can change it! I can retrain my brain to be even more compassionate, accepting and tolerant. The more often I change the negative, intolerant thoughts, the more I establish new chemical-electrical pathways in my brain that are positive and compassionate.


The wisdom of the Bible tells us  "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)


Jesus knew about brain training. Jesus set a powerful example of how to think positive thoughts, to think compassionately. He saw beyond each person's "flaws", he saw the good in everyone. He forgave and moved on. Do I think he had negative thoughts? Probably, but he didn't entertain those thoughts. He let go of them, he moved on to more compassionate thoughts. He focused on whatever was true noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable


How do we do that in our daily lives?  As usual, I ask myself "What would Jesus think about this?"


When we are standing in line and someone cuts in front of us...what are the automatic thoughts we have? What would Jesus think about this?
I don't think Jesus would fuss and fume and swear at them. Might he see the person ahead as stressed, running late, or in need of compassion?


When we turn on the television and see violence and injustice...we usually take sides and stances. What are our automatic thoughts? What would Jesus think about this?
Would  Jesus would see a bigger picture? Instead of injustice, might he see misunderstanding and an opportunity to understand and forgive?


When bad things happen to ourselves and those we love.....we usually have a myriad of automatic thoughts about this. What would Jesus think? Might Jesus see these events as part of the "classroom" of life, where no one gets through without pain and loss? And could pain and loss be opportunities to become more compassionate and loving people?


I think Jesus saw OPPORTUNITIES. Instead of evil, misfortune, rude people, I think he saw opportunities to understand and forgive.   This all comes about through thought change, through taking responsibility for changing our thoughts. It's not just about forgiving the big stuff, the stuff we work hard to understand and forgive. It's also about forgiving the little stuff, the daily irritations and seeming injustices. This is not the stuff we need therapy for. This is the stuff we can work diligently at, every day, every moment, every small irritation at a time. These are the daily CHOICES we have. Do we want to think like we think, or do we want to think like Jesus would?  This is the nuts and bolts of thought change and it isn't glamorous, but it feels sooooo good when we do it.


This is a blog about radical thought change.