«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» (Philippians 4:8, NLT).
At the end of our chromosomes, we have telomeres. They work much the same way as the plastic ends of our shoelaces, which prevent them from fraying. Telomeres protect the genetic material of chromosomes. As cells divide to multiply and regenerate tissues, telomeres become shorter. When telomeres are so tiny that they can no longer protect DNA, cells stop reproducing. That is why it is extremely important to take care of our telomeres. Recent studies show that lifestyle makes a great impact on telomeres and our longevity. Simple habits such as sleeping and exercising affect us at a cellular level. Another habit that has a great impact is speaking and thinking positively.
Pessimism and cynicism affect us not only at an emotional level, but also at a cellular level. In The Telomere Effect, Elizabeth Blackburn, who received a Nobel prize for discovering how telomeres work, writes, «When our research team performed a study on pessimism and telomere length, we discovered that people who scored many pessimistic traits had shorter telomeres.» Pessimism is a true risk factor for our health.
Doctor Blackburn explains, however, that it is not about scolding ourselves every time a negative idea crosses our mind, but about becoming more aware of our thought patterns and learning to appreciate the here and now more. If we know we have a tendency to be negative, let us take alarming thoughts with a grain of salt, and even with some humor: I can just imagine my demise. They should award me an Oscar for best picture!
Thoughts are like clothes: not all of them suit us. It is not worthwhile to buy (or believe) everything that crosses our minds. When you become more aware of your thoughts, «you feel less obliged to cling to them and allow them to take you wherever they lead. They are simply not worth following,» the specialist adds. We can let them go or choose better thoughts.
Dear Lord, please help me to notice my tendencies and to choose my thoughts with the same care I choose my clothes every morning. Renew my mind with Your Spirit and fill me with your peace.
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Perez & Angelica Cuate
