At the Dentist? Choose Your Hormone

One thought really does matter.  Analyzing each individual thought is critical to both your emotional and spiritual well-being. 

I know--it sounds like an overwhelming, if not impossible task.   You're thinking:   C'mon!  You have no idea of all the thoughts running through my head!   

Well, I just might.   And I know it's a hard call to action.  And I know it takes time to develop the habit of healthy and truthful thinking.  And I know we may bump our way through this. 

But I also know and believe with all my heart that if you discover the consistent process of taking your thoughts captive that you will step into victory and happiness perhaps like never before.  

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to take every thought or purpose captive (2 Cor. 10:5).    And when we take the thought captive we lead it in the direction we want it to go.  We must vet the thought through God's Truth.    We conclude it is toxic or truthful.  If toxic, we replace with truth. 

​You see, we are in control.  We can CHOOSE 2 THINK!

This is probably the very best news anyone could be given.  Your thoughts control your emotions and your actions.  Change your thoughts and you will change your emotions and actions.   It's worth it!

To help you begin the process, I recommend that you start with gratitude.

pic cred: beautiful Midway after the rain

Want an example of a thought pivot?  

Yesterday I had to go to the dentist for a filling.  As I sat in the chair for upwards of 50 minutes for the procedure, I found myself a bit frazzled, nervous, and disgruntled.  I was thinking thoughts like:  "Man, I hate coming to the dentist.  This whole gig is barbarous - I mean someone drilling on my head?!  And geesh, I do all the right things. I brush, floss, rinse daily, and here I am still with an issue.  What are my teeth turning into?  My whole mouth's a mess...." 

Get the picture?  

Then immediately after that avalanche of toxicity rushing through my brain and heart, I quietly whispered to myself, "Stop."

I knew exactly what to do.  I asked myself what I was most grateful for at that moment. 

I came up with quite a few things.

• I have dental insurance and the ability to pay the balance due with cash.
• I love my dentist --she is very kind and professional, and I have been seeing her for decades.
• I was thankful for technology to keep my teeth intact and my mouth healthy. 
• For additional preventative measures, I could try a new electronic toothbrush.  I could try to brush more often each day especially after consuming sticky sweet stuff.   
• The obvious:  I was grateful for my Teeth!  For crying out loud I have them!
• But it's not only teeth that I have,  I walked into the office with in a healthy body.  I drove a car to get there.  I had spent the last couple of hours with a darling granddaughter....

And I could keep going.   Get the new picture?  

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Take good care of your heart and mind. Remember: your thoughts matter.

This is called a THOUGHT SHIFT OR PIVOT.  

I recognized the toxic thoughts running rampant in my mind and brain flooding my system with cortisol.  With my thoughts (my  mind), I caused a different hormone to be released--oxytocin.  Ahhh....now I could settle in to the dentist chair with a bit more peace. 

Also, we can channel our thought energy to more healthy outcomes.  I try to take the time in the chair to pray.  What a perfect time to pray for all my kids' teeth!  And from there for their physical and spiritual health as well.  I was even grateful for those minutes to slow down and to pray--it was such a good use of my time!

Eyes off self.  Eyes on Truth.  ​

Taking each thought captive starts with one thought at a time.  The key in priming the pump to lead you to truth is to START WITH A GRATEFUL HEART.

If you would like some written exercises, help sheets, and guides, simply click the FREEBIES link above!  I will walk you through step-by-step the process toward healthy, truthful thinking.  You'll become smarter as well!

Join me!  Let's CHOOSE 2 THINK today!  Put some FEET on your FAITH!

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