As I was sitting here trying to figure out what I wanted to write, I began to think about how important our mind is. The mind controls our functions, defines our identity, pushes our will, and harnesses our self conscious. The mind is the manifestations of thought, perception, emotion, determination, memory and imagination that takes place within the brain. I have heard sayings over the years, “The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste.” or What you think you will become.” These things are very true. What you have in your mind and in the back of your mind will play a major part in how you tackle your world.

Let’s take a look at some things the mind controls: LOVE, ANGER, HAPPINESS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, STRESS, SELF ESTEEM, HEALTH,REACTIONS,SELF CONTROL,PATIENCE,PERCEPTION, DEFEAT,ETC. Wow! The mind is like a seed and whatever you put in or allow to stay, will grow. What you decide to water in your mind will grow. So, let’s briefly look at some of these through the microscope.

LOVE

Love is often times compared to the heart, but actually starts in the mind. The love that happens in the mind can affect the heart and can even cause it to beat faster. How you love stems from how you were raised and the environment you lived in. True fact. Love was one of the 1st emotions you should have experienced. As you got older and more independent, you started to form your own sub conscious perception of what love is. Imagine, a girl that is loved in stability by her family and parents. A girl that has stable love and support. A girl that sees her father as a hero. A girl who has had confirmation each day on how she belongs, how beautiful she is , and adored by family and friends. This girl will not love or accept love the way a girl who has had to struggle with her self esteem because she didn’t have a parent to tell or show her she belongs and she is loved. She is plagued with absent parents. She cries more than she laughs. She finds love in the streets because her father is caught up in his own world. She is used to wanting more than having the love. These two different girls will love differently and accept love differently. It all started in the mind. How these girls have learned to love and accept love was grafted in their minds by life’s experiences. But, there is a solution. Keep reading.

SELF ESTEEM

Self-esteem is an individual’s subjective evaluation of their own worth. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. –Wikipedia It all starts in the mind. Self esteem is your own measure of your personal worth and gauges your self respect. -Dreeka This is so tricky because sometimes we don’t even realize that we lack in this area. It can show in our posture, the way we eat, the people we date, the things we allow, and how we conquer goals. For example, a person that goes to complete a task, if they have the mindset of I can do this more than likely they will. A person that you always hear say I can’t will not put forth the effort to do the task at hand. The difference between the two is the self esteem. The self esteem will always affect the will. Accepting things that deep down we know we shouldn’t (in relationships, on the our jobs, from our family and friends) lowers our self esteem. What we listen to (somebody gossiping about you, rumors, misunderstandings, and even music and the degrading of women) lowers our self esteem. How you eat can chemically and physically affect your self esteem. Your exercise routine and the lack of it can lower our self esteem. Your self esteem can be affected positively or negatively, you have the control. There is a solution. Keep Reading.

PERCEPTION

This is the last one I will highlight and one of the best ones. Perception can make or break you in this life! Your perception can have you positive one minute and negative the next. Thinking crazy thoughts and not knowing who to trust. Your perception is a gift. Almost on the lines of intuition. The difference is the perception can affect all emotions and cancel out intuition depending on what’s in your mind. Whew! That is deep! Ladies, you could be dating a guy that wants to be super nice to you when you meet. You cannot accept how nice he is because of what you’ve experienced from guys in the past. In your mind, you know all too well about falling for a deception. So, you keep your guard up. Well, your past experience shaped your future perception. Not always a bad thing. Protecting yourself should be a priority, but do we now see how our perception can be shaped? It can also shape your reality. That’s just one example of many. But there is a solution!

SOLUTION

The solution is, it’s your world and your choice! Yes, sounds simple and it is. God has made you so powerful that you can shape the very fabric of your life to create in it what you want! I do understand that some things that have happened to us weren’t our fault. I understand the heartache and misfortune, but now is the time to rise up and have the life we deserve! What’s gonna give us that? Renewing our minds. Since we know that the mind controls all of our functions, it would make sense to start there. A Healthy mind equals a healthy life. It is no point in committing to an exercise regiment and your mind is still unhealthy and lazy. Start with the mind and your body will follow. Attempting to have healthy relationships and your mind is still unhealthy from previous experiences does you and that person a disservice. We can go on and on. Einstein said it best, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Just imagine going through life and keeping everything in there that happened to you in there. You can literally go insane. We need a filter. We need renewal. I have found some scriptures for each category we talked about. Let the renewal begin!

Mind

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing(to be made new) of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

LOVE

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalms 37

SELF ESTEEM

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

PERCEPTION

but test everything; hold fast to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESC

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:23-27

Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:4-6

These scriptures are powerful and are your solution! Precious Jewel rest. You’ve been fighting long enough. There is a war going on in your mind and yes you have to battle what you’ve been through and learned. You do not have to fight alone anymore. Let God give you the upper hand in this fight.

Affirm today: God has given me everything I need to win in my life! I am more than able to create the life I want. I command my thoughts to be elevated and that I see myself as God sees me. I will not settle for what I’ve been used to. I will overcome. I will persevere. I will rise!