Oh Repunzel. How many of us can identify with her in this situation - going back and forth in our heads and getting ourselves all tangled up in our thoughts and emotions? At the BeLoved Event a few Saturdays ago, Sr. Eliana, T.O.R. pointed out how easily we can go from reality to ridiculous in 3.9 seconds; how after a guy on campus says hello to you, 5 minutes later you are shopping for your wedding dress in your head. Or how you think you did poorly on a test and jump to the conclusion that you are failing out of Franciscan. Or you see someone else praying piously and automatically assume they are a walking saint far beyond you, a wretched sinner who will never achieve such heights of holiness.
We can get so tangled in our heads and hearts when our thoughts and emotions get out of control. So how do we bring ourselves back from ridiculous to reality? First, we have to have a solid foundation. That solid foundation is a daily personal encounter with Jesus in prayer. Built on this foundation, there are 5 practical steps towards being untangled by truth:
1. Realize - stop and listen! Be aware of your stream of consciousness. Take a step back and look at the situation honestly and realize the incorrect thoughts.
2. Reject - make a choice to reject the ridiculous, negative, or false thoughts. Don't entertain them.
3. Renounce - (similar to reject) in the Name of Jesus renounce the lies, negative thoughts or emotions.
4. Replace - recall and repeat truth (Scripture verse, saint quote, recall God's love for you or your unique beauty) instead of dwelling on the negative thoughts or the lies and falsities you may have internalized. You must fill yourself with truth.
5. Rejoice - thank the Lord for who He is and what He has done for you - for showing you Truth!
These are the 5 R’s to untangle our thoughts and ground ourselves in Truth!
"Do not comform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom 12:2)
Peace to your beautiful hearts!
- Sr. Elizabeth, TOR
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