I feel like I have been in a complaining mode lately. Does that every happen to you? I try hard not to be that person, but lately I’m failing regularly. I have to say, once I start complaining, it’s easy to keep complaining. Suddenly everything around me is irritating. Nothing makes me happy. It is easy to blame life and circumstances, but really the only one to blame is me.
Do you know people who like to complain? Are they fun to be around? Do they drag you down too? It is so easy for us to head in a negative direction. Negative thinking actually makes our entire bodies head in a negative direction. Scientists have finally proven what scripture has told us all along. We are wired for love. When we think negatively, it goes against the normal processes of the brain. Our hormones get out of whack and we start to create negative thought pathways in the brain. The longer we stay in that negative pattern the more hardwired those thought patterns become.
Here is the good news. We can change our brains. Dr. Caroline Leaf in her new book Switch on Your Brain (2013) describes the latest research on the brain and then teaches us how to rewire our own brains. She states that negative thinking can make us feel foggy, confused, negative and even depressed (pg 86).
Dr. Leaf also states that one of the best things we can do for our brain is to enter a state of rest-a Sabbath for the brain. When we enter a this intellectual state, we are focused and introspective which allows our brains to engage in rest. She states that we aren’t actually resting we are in an intelligent, self-reflective, directed state (pg 82). The best part is the more we go there the more we get in touch with the deeply spiritual part of who we are. She goes on to say, and I agree, that God has created this state to directly connect with him and practice an awareness of His presence.
This is so cool. God designed us in such a way that when we tune out the outside world and focus inward we increase our intelligence, strengthen our memory and decrease the negative effects of our negative thinking. We have the power to control our brain and our thought life to stop the negative thinking and focus on what scripture tells us.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV.
When we follow the words of this scripture, we can rewire our brains. We can build positive circuits and send positive hormones out to the body to stay in balance. I know I can feel the difference. When I am thinking positively, everything seems possible. When I’m thinking negatively, nothing seems possible. Life is way more fun when I’m in a positive state. That’s when my husband and kids like to be around me.
Feeling stuck? Check our Dr. Leaf’s book. You have the power to change your brain. Kicking up my devotional time is my plan to kick the complaining mode I have been in lately. My brain needs some true Sabbath rest. Besides that there is nothing better than being in the presence of God.
How do you stop negative thinking and complaining? Share your story here. We can all benefit from new ideas.