My inner thoughts kept me from writing for a long time. These thoughts of unworthiness made me afraid to take off my mask and show the world who I really was. It took me forever to admit to the world that I wanted to inspire people through the written word. I would hide my writing, letting the thoughts win, tucked away for no one to see. If you thought life is keeping you from your true purpose and passion you can do the following two things to reduce the monster to an insignificant punk.
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Bring these thoughts to the light. The darkness is where these thoughts live. Where they grow and draw their strength. Like a dark scary night, things in the dark recesses of our brain are like big scary shadows casting making the insignificant seem insurmountable. In the light they die back to the ground like turning the light on for your children revealing no lurking monster around the corner.
The first step to bringing them into the light is writing them down. This can be hard to do and a painful process, but I assure you it is worth the time. Writing them down draws the scary thoughts out of the brain and onto the sheet of paper so you and I can see how ridiculous they are.
After bringing these thoughts into the light we need to share these thoughts in community. Find those that you trust and can build open and honest relationships with to share these thoughts. Negative self-talk pushes us into a spiral of depression and isolation. The secrets and the dark places can feel like a million pounds. When we share our negative voices we realize that we are not alone. It as if our friend and confidant lifts the weight off of our backs, pushing back the darkness even more.
Choose two things today. Choose to reject those thoughts as being the enemy and choose a different set of thoughts. I choose to believe what God says about me. I choose the words in Jeremiah 29:11 “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” I choose to walk courageously with a head held high, putting forth bold action with each step into purpose and passion. So today I invite you to be bold and share your voices with this wonderful community. Push back the darkness of your negative thoughts. Take a step on this new adventure. Be blessed on your journey.
What does your negative voice tell you?
