Ten years ago, I wrote a post about the Three Laws of Emotional Strength (it’s old and could use a fresh string of words) based on Tommy Newberry’s book, The 4:8 Principle: The Secret to a Joy-Filled Life. I believe now is a great time to revisit these laws, and I’ll start with the same disclaimer: this is not some crazy mumbo-jumbo, new-age nonsense! These principles are grounded in solid teaching about how our thoughts shape our feelings and, ultimately, our lives.
The Power of Our Thoughts
The Bible is a great place to start when looking at the importance of our thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” It’s well-known that our thoughts determine our feelings, which influence our actions and experiences. If you want to dive deeper into this concept, I encourage you to read through the Book of Proverbs—one chapter daily for a month. The first time I did this I used a green highlighter and highlighted it each time I came across a reference to thoughts or words. I was amazed at how many references there were! I was like, “Hmm, so God really does care about what I think!”
The Three Laws of Emotional Strength
According to Tommy Newberry, the Three Laws of Emotional Strength are the Law of Attention, the Law of Exchange, and the Law of Reversibility. In my original post, I explored the first law. Today, let’s look at the other two.
The Law of Exchange
The Law of Exchange states, “You can do away with a negative thought only when you replace it with a positive thought.” Initially, this concept surprised me, but now it feels like common sense. If I say, “Don’t think of a red apple,” what do you think of? A red apple! Simply telling ourselves to stop thinking about something won’t work; we cannot leave a void in our minds.
To illustrate this, consider a time when anxiety was suffocating you. For me it was years ago when I was terrified of dying; a recurring fear I had had since childhood. Instead of fighting those thoughts, I had to learn to intentionally replace them. For example, when I would be consumed with the fear of dying, not only did I have to consciously replace the thought, but I also had to do something physical. I chose to clean my shower. It was almost impossible for me to get stuck in a fear and anxiety cycle while aggressively scrubbing grout!
A study in Cognitive Therapy and Research supports this by sharing that engaging in physical activities can significantly improve mood and reduce anxiety. During the Life Coach Certification process, I learned that thoughts are the language of the mind while emotions are the language of the body.
My thought was dying while my emotion was fear and anxiety. The only way to process through emotions is to move the body; emotions are physical and I can’t just “think them away.”
If you need tools to help with this exchange, I can help; I know what I’m talking about firsthand as your Life Coach! In addition to Life Coaching, start by creating a powerful playlist loaded with worship music, use citrus essential oils, which have been scientifically proven to boost mood, take a walk, journal, and write a quick list of ten things you’re thankful for. Be bold and courageous in your pursuit of joy!
The Law of Reversibility
The Law of Reversibility refers to our God-given ability to create feelings through our actions; James 1:22 encourages us to be doers of the word, not just hearers. One of the quickest ways to turn a bad day around is to intentionally serve others. Put a smile on your face, make a special treat for someone, and find a simple way to help someone. These small acts can trigger a chemical reaction in your brain that promotes happiness.
Feelings can trick us into thinking that whatever we feel must be true; they lie! Thanks be to God we have the power to change and redirect our thoughts which change our feelings–our feelings ALWAYS begin with our thoughts! Philippians 4:8 encourages us to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” (TPT)
“Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].” (AMP)
You Are Ready to Take the Next Step!
As a Christian Life Coach, I boldly and confidently help women embrace these truths, transform their thoughts, and live the life they want to live! You are ready to take the next step. Simply sign up for a free 30-minute Discovery Call with me! Let’s identify what’s in your way to the life you want to live. Then we can create a plan for joy, peace, and stability! (* I mention stability specifically because it was something I longed for and have heard the same from my clients.)
Click here to schedule your call and let’s get started! God has a beautiful plan for your life and it’s just on the other side of your transformation.
Conclusion
The Three Laws of Emotional Strength are not just principles; they are the tools we need to apply in our daily lives to live the life we want!
Scripture References:
Proverbs 23:7
The Book of Proverbs
James 1:22
Philippians 4:8
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