How to Make a Better You – Rely on God (Not Emotions, Thoughts or Feelings)
By Nina Sabin - Healthy Tip
Those of you who have been reading my healthy tips and have subscribed to our website for updates know the I have battled with depression and anxiety. It has been a life battle since I was a teenager.
As I have been on the journey of self-awareness and becoming a health and life coach, I thought I would no longer struggle or have that battle, but boy was I wrong. I knew all the right things about thinking positive, doing positive self-talk, believing in myself, and trying to let go of the past (all of the above topics have healthy tip blogs on our website). However, even with that I recently had a bout of depression. The amazing thing is it lasted less than a week which is huge for me and my battle in the past.
I wanted to dig deeper to understand how and why the depression came back. So I became curious and not judgmental of myself (this is what we I help you do as a health & life coach). It started with my husband leaving for three weeks and me feeling abandoned. I knew that was not true, he was doing volunteer work overseas with Samaritan’s Purse DART (International Disaster Assistance Response Team) in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. However, my thoughts and beliefs were saying something else to me. My mind was bringing up past hurts and feeding the fuel of the belief that I was being abandoned and left with all the work at our house.
I tried hard to follow my health & life coaching tools of saying “I can do this, I am empowered, I am able”. I even reached out to my pastor and a life coaching friend for support and accountability. I was journaling and doing the right things to stay away from those thoughts, emotions and feelings.
However, those negative thoughts kept creeping in. Then other thoughts started happening like, what is my purpose where we moved, how can I be a good health & life coach when I am struggling, and if I trust God with my life, how can I struggle so much with my thoughts, feelings and emotions. Even though during the three weeks he was gone, I was able to be content, do the things that had to be done and enjoyed my time. My brain still had those thoughts going on and it stirred up my feelings and emotions and eventually led to the chemicals in my brain becoming unbalanced and depression crept in. So, instead of being excited that he was back and that he did self-less work helping the people in Bahamas, I was struggling with depression.
Understanding depression starts by accepting it is a real disease and not a choice with our behavior. Millions of people suffer with depression and many of them it can become clinical depression. According to clinical-depression.co.uk, clinical depression is often said to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. There is a reduction in the amount of certain neurotransmitters found (monoamines such as serotonin and norepinephrine) in depressed people. That is why antidepressant medicine helps balance those chemicals.
If you have struggled with severe depression and anxiety you understand the feeling that a light switch was turned off and instead of being content and enjoying life, you just want to hide and die. It is such a deep dark feeling that most of us struggling just want it to go away any way possible. My husband and I prayed, kept asking God for help to take the depression away, and yes, I did decide to go back on medication for a short time. Going on depression medication is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. It shows that I want to feel better and get those chemicals back in balance.
As I mentioned earlier, I would do anything to get rid of the depression. I usually go on Google searching for answers to the depression. As I was doing that this episode, I found an article by Chonda Pierce. The famous Christian Comedian who also struggled with depression. Her story is what inspired me to write this blog about Relying on God and Not Emotions, Feelings, or Thoughts. Chonda’s article is Leaning On What You Know Instead Of What You Feel. Her focus is that we know the truth in God and that truth will heal us. Seeing the beauty in the world you know God is real and that He is always with us, guiding us and loving us. We just need to stay focused on Him. You can also learn more about Chonda story on her YouTube video Rehab & Recovery.
Not everyone struggles with clinical anxiety and depression from their thoughts, but the wrong thoughts, feelings, and emotions can affect relationships, lack of motivation, self-esteem, and being able to be content in this beautiful life.
So how do we avoid leaning on our emotions, thoughts, and feelings? We know they are temporary and can lead to false beliefs. I think the best thing to do is to define the difference between them all and then explain how they can affect us both positively and negatively.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of ‘thought’ is an idea or opinion produced by thinking, or occurring suddenly in the mind. The definition of ‘feelings’ is an emotional state or reaction and a belief, especially a vague or irrational one. Finally, the definition of emotions is a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others. Thoughts leads to feelings, which leads to emotions, and then starts to develop beliefs - even beliefs that are false.
Being aware of your thoughts, feelings, emotions is the first step to avoid depression, other problems and hurts. Next, learn to get rid of those false and negative thoughts as quickly as possible, and replacing them with true and positive thoughts. Recently I learned about visualizing a cloud and putting any thought that is not positive, encouraging or adding value to my life on that cloud and let it float away. That visualization really helps me let go of that thought.
Another way to get rid of those thoughts, emotions and feelings is by prayer and journaling. God wants us to let go and give everything to Him. When we set our mind on the things above, we no longer have to suffer. In the Bible, Colossians 3:2 states “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Lastly, receive help from others by getting support and accountability. When you are having those false thoughts, feelings and emotions, get help from a friend, counselor, or health & life coach.
I understand the struggles with thoughts, feelings and emotions and can help you move forward to feel empowered by providing the support and accountability you need to make those life changes. Make a Better You today learn to rely on God and not your thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Contact me today for a Complimentary Breakthrough Session. You will be amazed how much you will discover in just one session on what is holding you back from relying on God.
Don’t miss this opportunity to change your life and let go of those unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and emotions! Now is your time!
As a bonus we are extending the 50% offer until the end of December on any of the Health & Life Programs. Make sure you take advantage of this offer. All it takes is 60 – 90 minutes of your time, you don’t even have to leave your home, our time together is done online via video chat or even just a phone call. Whatever you prefer.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t let your ‘critter brain’ (fear of change) hold you back from making that lifestyle change. Take the step forward and contact me.