If you struggle everyday with negative thoughts, you are not alone. Psychologists estimate that we have 60,000 – 70,000 thoughts per day, with approximately 80% of those thoughts being negative or self-damaging. In fact, unless you actively seek to identify these negative thoughts, you may be unaware that they exist. The negativity is fueled by everything out there. The news is becoming increasingly depressing. Our minds are more likely to perceive the cup as half-empty and worsening. The solution is to strengthen the mind. According to Les Brown, you should train yourself to read 30 to 40 pages of something positive every day.
We are surrounded by negativity, distractions, and people who have given up on their dreams all the time. We can’t avoid them from morning to night. This is a reality of our lives. You can, however, protect yourself from it all. Your mission is to train yourself to read, think and meditate on something positive everyday. And, because nothing is more positive than God’s word, this is your cue to read the Holy Bible every day. There is no other way. You cannot stop the negativity that exists in the world, but you can prevent it from taking root in your mind.
Your mind is a garden; take care of it. While you cannot control every thought, you can direct where your mental energy is invested. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” says Isaiah 26:3 (ESV). 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV) says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Nothing is more effective than the word of God in combating negativity, but it must be consumed in tangible quantities. Invest the time to consume 30 pages of Scripture everyday, it will help you flourish.