How to Change Your Mind
As a world class ruminator, I know the problems involved with focusing too much upon the recent and not-so-recent past. This is a problem for many of us and can lead to such conditions as depression and anger. There are many approaches to overcoming negative thoughts. Some involve working with forgiveness, both of oneself and of others. There are many good books on this topic. Tara Brach’s book, Radical Acceptance, for example, emphasizes self-forgiveness as a means of positive thinking. Pema Chodron’s books also provide practical means of achieving acceptance and forgiveness. David Johnson has an excellent forgiveness meditation on YouTube that is based on the thought of the late Bhante Vimalaramsi. It also addresses self-forgiveness and the forgiveness of others. These Buddhist inspired approaches are great at achieving better mental states.
There are, of course, Christian approaches that can be very helpful. Most Christians are familiar with Jesus’ statement in Matthew to forgive seven times seventy times. There is other advice from the New Testament that reaches beyond forgivness. In Philippians Paul writes, “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.” (NIV, Phil. 4:8). This can be used not only where forgiveness is involved but also as an antidote to…