Tag Archives: self-talk

Night ~ Day 7 ~ #Write28Days

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“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)/ Pixabay

Night Time Conversations

I talk a lot AND I talk loudly.  I try not to, honest I do! But, telling stories, giving advice, asking questions, answering questions….you name it…. I tend to foam at the mouth! I just can’t seem to help myself!  Now sometimes, I actually talk so others can hear, (sorry family and friends) but more often than not, the voice dominating the conversation is the one inside my very own head. And unfortunately, her favorite time to chat is in the middle of the night! Anyone else know what I’m talking about?

Often, I’m not sure why, I wake up around 3:00 A.M. Would you believe she’s already conversing before I even have one eye open? The words spew quickly, bouncing around and echo loudly in my mind.  It wouldn’t be so bad if they were uplifting messages, confident affirmations, and organized plans, however, these conversations in the dark are quite the opposite!

Her night time monolog reminds me of disappointing failures, overwhelms me with worries, offers frightening diagnoses, and casts doubt where I have harbored hope. She taunts and ridicules, frightens and shames. Try as I might to silence the voice,  the froth of her words spume forth engulfing my peace and make the night seem darker.

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” 1 John 1:5 (NLT)

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 (NLT)

It’s likely that the voice of darkness in each of us will continue to try and be the keynote speaker anytime it can, but I’m learning that whether it’s in the middle of the night or anytime at all, we can choose to either dwell in the words spoken from the murky places of our minds or we can invite God into the conversation and rest in His message of truth and light.

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

When we allow God to mute the disparaging dialog we speak to ourselves and let Him become the Guard of our minds, we will finally experience a truly peaceful night’s sleep and wake refreshed to welcome the light of a brand new day! Now that’s worth having a conversation about!

 

I’m popping in and out when I can at http://www.anitaojeda.com for the #Write28Days Challenge.  If you’d like to read the creative posts of other writers just click on over there!

 

 

 

Lesson From the Bird Feeder

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“But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) / Pixabay

Lesson from the Bird Feeder

Birds flitter here. 
Birds flutter there.
They eat of my seed
Without worry or care.

This is, until
The bully appears.
His size alone
Ignites all their fears.

A loud “CAW” fills the air.
They can’t miss the blue plume.
He spreads out his wings
And takes all the room.

He eats ’til he’s full
While they hide from his sight.
Lacking courage to dare him
Try as they might.

As I watched the whole scene
It struck me today.
It’s not just the birds.
I’m exactly the same way!

I’m living my life.
Things are moving along.
Then the bully chimes in
Saying I’ve done it all wrong.

She continues to chant
Lots of negative stuff.
Why do I listen
And not shout “enough”?

Just like the birds
I change what I do.
And believe when she says
“You aren’t able to see it through.”

She continues her assault.
Her list is so long.
My heart feels condemned 
Where there once was a song.

It’s time to stand up to her
But it’s not easy, you see.
The bully that’s always taunting
Is the voice inside of ME!

 

I recently read an insightful blog post called “Waking Up to the Power of Positive Self-Talk” by Cindy Krall at http://www.cindykrall.com

It got me to thinking back and wondering if I’d ever experienced being bullied.  Sure kids had called me names because of the curly ball of hair on my head and my “Pollyanna-ish” personality; but imagine my surprise when I had the realization that the biggest bully I’ve ever encountered was myself.  The things that I tend to say to myself are things I would NEVER say to anyone else.  It’s made me realize that I need to change my self-talk. I now wonder what I might have accomplished if I hadn’t been telling myself I wasn’t good enough or that I couldn’t do it.  How about you?  What words do you use to talk to yourself?  If you find yourself like me, I hope you’ll join with me and begin to mute that bully’s voice and instead, turn “Pollyanna” up full blast! And always remember that as the verse from 2 Corinthians says above, “Christ’s power is made perfect in weakness”.

**For you youngsters Pollyanna is a Disney character who was known for her positive, uplifting attitude.

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