BEWARE OF NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
«A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence» (Proverbs 13:2).
THE TONGUE
Philip is a very pessimistic young man in the different areas of his life. He has low self-esteem, doesn’t think he can get good grades in high school, and considers himself a vicörn of life’s injustices. In the evenings, he spends many hours listening to music, watching movies, and visiting various Internet sites. Through such media, he realizes that he is not as rich, attractive, or handsome as the young men who appear to be successful; besides, none of the girls will notice him. That strengthens his frustrations and pessimism. The young man believes that his life is miserable, and he even entertains suicidal thoughts. The Spanish psychiatrist Enrique Rojas says that there are two actors that negatively affect a worried mind: inactivity and loneliness. In addition, he lists some of the negative thoughts that often assault the human mind—No te rindas [Don’t give up], Madrid: Planeu, 2011, pp. 113, 114:
- A grudge against people we believe have treated us unfairly. That is to say, feeling hurt and not forgetting.
- Dissatisfaction and impotence due to our current situation.
- Envy with those we believe are better than us.
- Remembering mistakes made in the past and therefore no longer have a remedy.
- Fear of things that might happen in the future, that is to say, to think ahead of the negative.
- Concern for what others might think of us.
Are you a person full of pessimistic thoughts? What are you feeding your mind? Do you realize that all of that will have consequences in your way of thinking and acting? Words influence the state of mind and the formation of personal criteria, among other things. That’s why we have to careful of everything that impacts our thoughts: music, TV shows, movies, Internet sites, and friends. All this transforms us and makes us similar to the things that come through our senses. Yes, we are the result of what we hear, contemplate, or touch. Therefore, we must take care of the avenues of the soul as much as possible, because our mind is part of the temple Of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
On the other hand, you have to avoid idleness and loneliness. It is better to have some kind of community service activity, sport, hobby, or study in your leisure hours and learn to integrate yourself into a social circle. That will be an excellent vaccine against pessimism.
Ask the Lord today to help you take care of your mind and fill it with edifying and positive words.
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Take From: Daily Devotions for Youth 2020
«A New You»
From: Alejandro Medina Villareal
Collaborators: Gezer Noria & Misael Morillo