Distorted Thinking part 2

I am including the second part of the distorted thinking.

Distorted Thinking - Pt 2

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that..." (Romans 12.2 NASB bold mine)

We are currently in a series of issues regarding 15 types of distorted thinking*. We will take 3 or 4 types per issue. As indicated last week, I encourage you to pray first, then read the description of each type, asking God to search your being. To review last week's issue, Click Here.

Now, see if any of these types of distorted thinking are getting in the way of serving strong.

Mind Reading. Without saying a word, a mind reader knows that people are feeling and why they act the way they do. Particularly, they are able to divine how people are feeling toward them. Mind reading depends on a process called projection. A mind reader imagines that people feel the same way they do and react to things the same way they do. As a result, they don't watch or listen carefully enough to notice the differences. Mind readers jump to conclusions that are true for them, without checking whether they are true for the other person.  Are you a mind reader?

Catastrophizing.  This is where you expect disaster. The catastrophizer notices or hears about a problem and starts the "what ifs" ("What if that happens to me? What if tragedy strikes?") There are no limits to a really fertile catastrophic imagination. The underlying foundation for this style of thinking is that the catastrophizer doesn't trust in themself and their capacity to adapt to change.  Are you a catastrophizer?

Personalization. Personalizers possess the tendency to relate everything around them to themself. Like, thinking that everything people do or say is some kind of reaction to them. They compare themselves to others, trying to determine who's smarter, better looking, and so on. The underlying foundation: their worth is always in question. Therefore, they are always forced to test their value as a person by measuring themselves against others. If they come out better, a sigh of relief. If they come up short, feeling diminished.  Are you an personalizer?

Can you identify with any of these types of distorted thoughts? If so, lay your mind before the throne of an Almighty God who wants so desperately to work with you and restore you to health. If you need professional help, seek it. There is no shame in journeying to wholeness with the help of others. 

Stay tuned. Next week we'll continue with "Control Fallacies", "Fallacy of Fairness", and "Blaming". Stay strong this week!

I will also begin starting next Sunday including  what a group of pastors and myself are studying on Wednesday mornings on the stations of the cross with some insights.  This will be a daily event leading to Easter Sunday.