I have a friend in my recovery meetings who always says, “It’s not the drinking, it’s the thinking.”
When I finally surrendered and asked God to relieve me of the obsession for alcohol, He did. The problem is—I still have my faulty and obsessive thinking. Hmmm. Now, how do I handle that?
Just like my not drinking. One day at a time.
Our brains are like computers. There is a term in computer science called, “Garbage in, garbage out” (GIGO)—it’s the concept that flawed, or nonsense input data produces nonsense output or “garbage.”
Makes sense?
So, each day, I have to guard my ears and eyes to what is received. Too much news or negative reading is dangerous for me. I can “think” too much, start judging, get riled and suddenly, I am upset. Not knowing how I got there. Well, I do know how I got there. Input is critical. The garbage that flows out of me in the form of bad attitude is evidence. I call it being “spring-loaded”—anything can set me off.
I am a very visual person. What I see, affects me emotionally. Watching news drains me. Looking at nature, charges me and fills me with joy. hmmm. Seems kinda obvious, no?
I guess I am a slow learner. So, I begin again, today. I start with prayer, devotional reading, and looking at the nature God created right in front of me. Only then, can I make wise choices on other relational issues that come up. I am better armed and ready to respond in a gentle way.
Try it.
I will try it today, too.
Then, again, tomorrow.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8
Click on my books below to buy.
