TOXIC FAITH

Man…. I’m just going to be honest…. those who know me know I have no other version. HA!

God has been doing a move on my faith lately. It has been happening in my prayer life. Yes, I am a spirit filled believer. 

So, what does this have to do with toxicity?

Well, I’m sure you have heard toxic thoughts lead to toxic decisions and or thoughts about yourself or others that really just aren’t true. 

When we allow toxicity into our thought life it slowly makes itself at home. You might not notice it there right away. You might have some negative thoughts on and off for a while but life is still pretty clear and sunny. But slowly but surely your thoughts stop having a positive tone about them. The words you begin speaking out loud all have a low tone, less positivity or “bad endings.” Example, “This weather is awful and so rainy, we’ve had the rainiest weather all summer, I can’t go do anything.” While the truth is we have had a rainy summer, the not true part is that you can’t do anything and that the weather is awful. Now I am not going to dissect this statement to death because it isn’t necessary, this is just an example of something being thought or spoken that isn’t really true. A more positive and less toxic version of this statement could be thought or spoken like this, “This has been such a rainy summer, I’m sure it is good for something, I’ve really had to get creative with my activities.” It’s not bright and over cheery, it is simply the truth without the toxic undertone. 

OUR THOUGHTS ARE SO POWERFUL FOR OUR BODIES AND OUR HEALTH!

I feel I could scream that to the world right now but screaming is loud and rude so I’ll gently type it here. HA!

Did you know that as many as 80% of general doctor visits have an emotional drive underneath them? Identifying that emotion can be so hard. 

Being able to master your emotions is one of the hardest tasks I think we have on this earth, that and loving others and ourselves. When we can identify the negative thread weaving through our thoughts, we can then let God have it so we can see things through His eyes rather than ours which is heavily tainted. I want you to know you don’t have to be negative to be heard or understood. Speaking in truth doesn’t have to have a bad ending. Finding the root to your toxic thoughts is just as important as finding the root to your headaches or your low back pain. To me “symptomatic” thoughts are just as important as “symptomatic” physical ailments. 

I think in general life is hard, thankfully our heavenly home is promised too not be hard and much more fulfilling. Take your thoughts in hand today and begin to ponder on how you see or think things. Is it uplifting? Is it nourishing to you? Do your thoughts make you and others feel good? Are your thoughts encouraging? If the answer is no more times, then yes. Then maybe it’s time for a mental detox. What does that look like?

Ever heard of a junk journal? That’s a place you dump your negative jargon swimming around in your thoughts. Yes, you actually write out your toxic thoughts, or speak them into your phone. Example, “Hey Siri write down that today sucks!” And there doesn’t need to be any structure to this. Just write the junk that comes out. If writing it down scares you, then maybe this would be really good for you. Mine looks like this…. “I’m so irritated with the way my body looks right now, I can’t seem to do anything right.” (This is not true by the way, but it was a negative thought running through my head at the time.) 

Wait there is more…. then you write in your gratitude journal or your uplifting journal, call it what you want but there is no place for toxicity in this book. I try to keep the gratitude journal simple. Mine is a notes page on my phone. I list 4 gratitude’s a day. That’s it. It is grounding, uplifting and reminds me life is good and God is faithful even in the little things. 

Having faith during this day and age is hard, challenging, a daily struggle for some, and maybe a hourly struggle. Deepen your faith by strengthening your thought life. If you need help with this, please shoot me a message!

Much Love Friends,

Dr. Ashley