Years ago, as part of a 31-day writing challenge, I dove into a topic we all struggle with, fear. Fear has always been my default; I grew up a scared, anxious child and young adult. You can understand why my passion is to help girls and women reclaim peace through Christian thought awareness…basically, think about what you’re thinking about…and center it on Christ.
Remember when the world was talking about Ebola, and later, the coronavirus? These two topics consumed headlines and whispers alike, triggering fear, panic, and anxiety for many. For me, as a Christian woman and Certified Life Coach, moments and topics like that remind me of the necessity to fix my mind on the truth—first and foremost, Who I know to be the Truth.
I just shared the basis and the simplest way to explain Christian thought awareness. It’s so easy in times of confusion–especially national or international confusion, to feed the fear, to let our thoughts run far and wide, and to lose focus.
How Fear Sneaks In
Fear is so sneaky! As soon as we hear about crises, our minds can immediately spiral into “what if” scenarios. Too often, all these scenarios do is suck the joy right out of us, taking our peace along as well. Our minds–because they’re designed to keep us safe and are always on the lookout for danger, are quick to jump to all the ‘what if’ scenarios!
Here’s a simplistic example of how our brains work. Imagine being told not to think about a red apple—suddenly, that’s all you picture! Similarly, when we try to avoid thinking about a crisis, we actually end up fixating on it even more! But when we practice Christian thought awareness and actively shift our focus toward thoughts of hope and truth, we can prevent fear from taking hold.
So how do we train our minds to react differently? How can we learn to default to thoughts of courage, strength, and peace instead of fear, anxiety, and worry? Modern brain research shows us how. Through the power of neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to reshape and rewire itself—we actually have the capacity to retrain our thoughts.
In Christian Life Coaching, I use this scientific understanding to help my clients cultivate thought awareness. By using the Scriptures as a foundation of their thoughts, they learn to strengthen their ability to redirect fearful or negative thoughts back to what is good, pure, and true. This is the power of Christian thought awareness.
As I was going through this process years ago it helped me to visually think of a stop sign or gates closing when I began having unwanted scary thoughts. I would imagine the sign or gates and then imagine redirecting my thoughts. The science behind this is getting out of old brain “ruts”, and old thought patterns, and creating new pathways–new thinking patterns.
Reclaiming Our Minds
In one of my favorite books, The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry, he shares an insight that resonates with my life and coaching practice: “You can do away with a negative thought only when you replace it with a positive thought.” This idea isn’t just Pollyanna positive thinking; it’s actively choosing what we want to think about; thoughts that align with the joy and peace God promised us wants us to have.
When my clients start to drift into various fears and worse-case scenarios around health crises, family conflict, job insecurity, or any other fears and anxieties, I teach them to quickly turn their focus back to who Christ is, the depth of His love for us, and the truth and stability of His Word.
Philippians 4:8 offers a powerful guideline for this practice: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” The Amplified Bible translation adds, “…center your mind on them and implant them in your heart.”
When fearful thoughts come, I teach my clients and remind myself to pivot those thoughts to God and His promises. It’s like a mental reset button that realigns my heart and mind with peace and trust. And the Scriptures tell us the Word of God is powerful and active…I’m not just “doing nothing!” As a matter of fact, I’m actually adding some impressive thought fire-power!
The Influence of Thought Awareness and Neuroplasticity
With each client I coach, we dive into the power of Christian thought awareness. The latest research in neuroplasticity confirms that our brains are not static; they can change with intentional practice, so we intentionally practice using the Word of God and His powerful promises.
This means we can grow in peace and resilience, even when fear tries to overwhelm us. Developing Christian thought awareness allows us to “catch” or “take captive” our fear-based thoughts and replace them with truth-based affirmations rooted in Scripture.
Over time, this practice creates and strengthens new neural pathways, and new thinking ruts in our brain, developing and strengthening a mindset that is grounded in joy and less susceptible to fear. This process is transformative, and it’s what makes coaching a beautiful journey.
This is Personal for Me and Why I Value Teaching It
In elementary school, learning about Ebola left me completely and totally scared out of my mind! As a sensitive child, family instability, along with zero filters on what I took in watching television, listening to music, or reading books, cultivated rich soil for a fearful imagination and anxious heart, mind, and soul. Certain stories could very easily grip my heart and mind, often leaving me feeling shaky, scared, anxious, and overwhelmed.
Unfortunately, as we grow older, those old thought patterns don’t magically change by themselves. So as an adult, I carried those same thought patterns that stole my joy and peace. And this thief not only took hold of my thoughts, it also commanded my time–taking me from the present moment to fearful imaginings about the future.
Through counseling, which I now recognize as the tenants of my Life Coaching practice using thought awareness and Scripture affirmations, I reset my mind. Now, this doesn’t mean I’m not ever fearful or anxious. What this means is that I now recognize the thoughts for what they are, I look for any truth or validity and process the thoughts rather than let them run rampant.
If fear has been sneaking in…or just flat-out dog-piling you, know that you’re not alone. I can’t say it loud enough or enough times…I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH! As your Life Coach, my heart is to walk alongside women like you, teaching you, helping you, and guiding you as you learn to cultivate a mindset rooted in joy, resilience, and truth.
Join Me on the Journey
If you’re longing for this type of peace and desire guidance in cultivating a joyful, fear-free mind, please consider Christian coaching. Through one-on-one sessions, we can dive deep into thought awareness, Scripture, and neuroscience-backed tools to support your growth. I have committed to being the person I needed all those years ago! I have gone first and I know how to help you.
You are ready momma! Contact me for a free initial consultation.
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