My Journey to Wholeness: Training my thoughts by thinking of things I enjoy

Its that typical day. You wake up and your mind has a cloud above it. You feel off, demotivated and dread the day ahead. Many factors may be the reason. It may be depression or oppression, an anxious piece of news or a disappointment that has dragged on for years. Whatever it is, you know you have to change your thought polarity, you need to switch to joy and gratitude, but how? I wrestled it for years.

My kind intentional friends love to send me scripture. And one includes of that nestled in Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 

I really appreciated it. No seriously, its nice to know someone cared to pray for you. But it brought pressure to me when I couldn’t achieve it. I tried to memorise it, tried to focus on something that was true. But it often went like think of whatever things are true… Hmm… true… true… umm Jesus. And then my brain which needed a little circuit fixing, would just go blank. And the spiral downwards might begin again.

I kinda dreaded that verse, somehow it was a bit high up there although it seemed so simple and basic to me. Like each time I read it, condemnation would come and I was telling myself ‘Get your ** together and just think of something good.’ But often, its not that simple for someone who has gone through trauma and years of mental whatever you want to call it.

So I’m a lot more patient with myself now. And the beautiful miracle is – I have finally found a method of living this verse out.

I really have to thank Deeper Walk ministries and Thrive for this one. I ‘attended’ one of their online recaps seminar and basically when Chris Coursey on Thrive taught the virtual classroom how to do it – it sounded way too simple – yet it worked for me. And I’m here to share because I understand how its like to be down in the dump.

The practice is simple.

First, think of some people you enjoy. Pause and appreciate the memory, don’t just notice it. Think about those conversations and time with them, what you like about them.

Second, think of a place you enjoy. Do the same, take time like at least 1 minute to re-enjoy that memory – the trees or flowers or fireplace.

And then think of a type of food you enjoy – roti canai…. the sauce, the crispy exterior… savour the moment and allow your brain to come alive.

Finally, and this is a cute one, think of an animal you like or an interaction with an animal you really enjoy and pause to appreciate it.

It worked wonders for me, somehow got a switch in my brain running and my whole being could sense God’s love and presence again. Christ Coursey from Thrive calls it activating the joy switch of the brain. I teared actually when I did it for the first time because I was feeling emotionally so stuck before that. It may seem like child’s play to some, but its great at filling gaps for us who missed out on something in our childhood.

Well, sound of music does a song thats pretty similar called ‘think of your favourite things’.

For me, I’d like to think that I finally am able to live out Philippians 4:8 in my everyday thinking.

Much love and tell me how it goes.