Like a waterfall, we constantly think, but where do our thoughts come from? We know that thoughts control our behavior, but what controls our thoughts? If we can control our thoughts, then we can control our behavior. I have been pondering this question for several years and came up with five scenarios of what controls our thoughts and where they come from.
The first scenario: Does knowledge affect our thoughts? For instance, I know certain foods create health problems, yet I mindlessly eat them. Why? Apparently, knowledge does not control our thoughts, but it should. However, pairing knowledge with a feeling will affect our thoughts and decisions. For example, I knew corn was bad for me, but I loved eating tacos and corn chips with salsa. It wasn’t until I associated eating corn products with my severe joint and back pain that I changed my thinking. Now, when I see anything with corn, I have no desire to eat it because I associate pain with this knowledge. To learn more, read my post about becoming free from infirmity. Or, you may have knowledge that so-and-so lies, but it means nothing to you until that person deceives you, and you associate feelings of distrust with that knowledge.
The second scenario: Words and images create and control thoughts because they create and control our feelings, both good and bad. Feelings then create memories, that then create beliefs and the corresponding behavior. For example, when you see a beautiful sunset or hear beautiful music that makes you feel good, you will remember it. And for instance, watching the news, a movie, or a TV show that causes you to feel happy or sad, security or fear, peace or anxiety, etc., which then cause those thoughts to become a memory. For example, I watched a movie where two women were abducted, and bad things happened to them. After watching this movie, I became fearful of being abducted. This fear was irrational because the fear was not credible. See the post about becoming free from anxiety to learn more. And how I became free from anxiety disorder; Why, What, and How to Submit to God and be FREE
The third scenario: Unseen spirits putting thoughts in our minds, which then direct our feelings, beliefs, and behavior. You may have seen the image of a devil figure on one shoulder and an angel figure on the other shoulder. The devil figure is telling you to do something bad, and the angel figure is telling you to do something good. You can’t say, the devil made me do it, to avoid punishment because all thoughts are within our control, which I will explain in another post. This scenario may sound funny, but I have studied these phenomena and have written a book (now editing) about this topic.
The fourth scenario: Do our habits indirectly create thoughts? Have you driven somewhere and out of habit you turn at a certain place even though you did not intend to turn there? How often do we automatically or mindlessly do things out of habit? Habits can be beneficial, i.e., brushing your teeth or harmful, i.e., not brushing your teeth. Because bad habits generate automatic responses to do something harmful, they need to be reprogrammed. For example, I have a bad habit of eating candy from the candy dish at work. I know this is not good for my health or weight (scenario one). So why do I do it? Some bad habits are controlling addictions, e.g., smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, watching too much TV, eating too much food, etc. Read my post on becoming free from addictions to learn more. The next time you automatically do something, ask yourself the question, why? And, “Is this what I really want to do?” “Is this good and beneficial?”
The fifth scenario: Do our thoughts come from subconscious memories? I can testify that this is true. Conscious and subconscious painful memories generate poor behavior when triggered by the current feelings. Read my post about memories to learn more.
I would love to know what your thoughts are about thoughts.
Also, read my short book to learn how to transform thoughts: 1–Healing Begins by Transforming Painful Memories
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My latest book is Unlocking God’s Promises, which explains 18 categories of promises that are relevant to each of our lives. It also includes the promises in Psalm 91.
If you find this website helpful, you would like to read Breaking Mental Strongholds, which expands on my website book and includes many of my posts.
Additionally, consider my book Fighting Unseen Battles, which describes the many unhealthy beliefs that control our lives and what the truths are. To learn more about this book, read the post How to Fight Unseen Battles.
Contact me at hopeforcompletehealing@gmail.com and ask for a PDF of Eight Life-Changing Prayers from the Bible. The prayers are for the Spirit of wisdom, renewal, spiritual strength, knowledge of His will, virtues of God, non-believers, the 23rd Psalm, and victory. I will also send you the Lord’s Prayer Model to pray effectively. Please leave your name, so I know you are a real person making the request.
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