Change Your Thinking: Change the World

July 18, 2011 by Hopeannfaith 1 Comment

Change Your Thinking by Maryellen
Smith

“If you can’t change your fate, change your attitude.” – Ralph
Waldo Emerson

At any given point in time, you’re only one thought away from changing your thinking. What thought can you change today?

(Author: Maryellen Smith)

Self Reliance was a writing prompt that was supposed to last 31 days. As you can see it continues far past the announced time frame of the original prompt … so they keep coming.

I found early on that I DID NOT resonate with the prompts. The spent an inordinate amount of the prompts on the same concept, simply worded differently. Like those psych exams I took, when I was a social worker, to see if I had the ability to help others consistently (and let’s be honest, to make sure I wasn’t a sociopath) before I was employed.

Therefore, I really didn’t participate as much as I would have liked to, in the prompts. I did participate, however, when I was able to see the Faith of Emerson’s writing; where it appeared that the people who were running the prompts either did not see it (how that was possible, I don’t know) or chose to ignore it.

Like the prompts and the psych tests … repeating a thing or action over and over does not make it truth. It simply proves insanity!

You know the definition: Insanity is doing (saying) the same thing over and over again, expecting a different outcome.

Yeah … if you are intelligent (sane) that thinking doesn’t fly. This is a given, as you are sane. 🙂

That (long-winded explanation) being said, I liked this prompt so I will write, because it does not require me to rely upon my …

‘Self Reliance’

… which I am not supposed to do. I am directed to rely upon God‘s knowledge and not my own understanding. We are directed to let go and let God.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

My fate does, most certainly, rely on my thinking (my internal attitude).

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT

The only way I change my fate is to change my thinking, and with my thinking changed, I change my attitude.

The bible says:

1Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

If mine is the doctrine of the world … which our first scripture warns against, I become self-reliant. Self reliance, for me, leads to grandiose thinking and reasoning. It leads to an attitude of entitlement and self centeredness. These are the things the world endorses.

“Every man for himself”.

A personal character defect of mine.

When my doctrine becomes the Word of God I become reliant, dependant, upon God, my creator. The Man with the plan; Jeremiah 29:11. I can crawl out of my self thinking and self-exalting and relax, knowing things are being handled at a higher level of thinking …

Isaiah 55:9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

When I change the way I think about where I am today, with the understanding that the plan is God’s, not mine, then I begin to believe His Word as to who, what and why I am.

My attitude becomes that of a loved child who is encouraged to succeed, expected to succeed; therefore I succeed.

My attitude becomes one of the child who is loved and sees the need to give that love out. I know that others, who do not know that they have the backing of the Creator, as I do, need me to extend that UNCONDITIONAL LOVE to them.

Our pastor said somethingdifferently yesterday. Something I knew as a truth, yet he was able to illuminate it for me, He said:

Compassion much overtake empathy.

I heard this in my Spirit:

“My empathy for you is useless, unless … my compassion for you moves me to action.” This is God thinking … Kingdom thinking.

When I change the way that I think … I change my fate.

When I change my thoughts to God thoughts … I change the world!

Blessings Loves ♥

Author: Hopeannfaith

Welcome, I'm Andrea ... HOPEannFAITH ... I write and take pictures as a way of expression. These are gifts given by a loving and indulgent Father, to a headstrong and stubborn daughter, with much to say. A semi-retired social worker/secretary, I now call myself a writer. I've published one internet article and written many blog posts. However, publishing does not make one a writer, anymore than taking a box camera to the park makes one a photographer. What makes one who and what they are? Well God for one ... formed me before the foundations of this world (Psalm 139); and many, many years after putting away my passion for wordsmithing and picture taking He gave it back ... in droves. I am a culmination of my choices and experiences. It is here that my experiences color the world in print and color. It is my goal to reach just one soul a day with love ... encouragement ... understanding or just letting that soul know that they are not alone where they are today. This is about creating ~ all of it. Creating a HOLY and SACRED place where the ugly truth can be healed and the beauty of a moment or a tear can brighten a day for the experience. Why HOPEannFAITH? Hopeannfaith is my inner child, and she is maturing, as she should have done all along. She is learning all about how Faith fulfills Hope. She is learning how to live. HOPEannFAITH ~ the wonder twins all wrapped up in one, me. These are my Journey Journals ~ written and visual. I welcome your company. I welcome your friendships. My Journey is in the light ~ although I have and will share the shadowy corners and the dark ~ so you know that you are never alone there. If we hold hands in the dark, and we walk, side by side, through the shadow, we will reach the Light together. In relationship with one another and with the Light. Blessings.