The Illusion of Truth

October 12, 2021Blog, Encouragementpositive, thoughts, wordsdebio7 Leave a comment

Perhaps you have heard of this tendency, or perhaps it is more easily recognizable because you have lived it. It is rooted in the neuroscience behind the power of our words and basically says,

” any word we hear, read or speak daily has more truth to us… we don’t care if it is true or false, we believe it.”
Icytales.com “The Power of Words”

Neruoscience supports the power of words, both positive and negative.

Researchers, while monitoring brain responses to auditory and imagined negative words, discovered painful or negative words increase IMP (Implicit Processing). What that means is, negative words release stress and anxiety inducing hormones in subjects. Imagine that now, on a daily basis and its affects upon you, me, us. Those negative words produce not only anxiety and stress in me, but also in the way I see my world. They have built for me the lens through which I see people, events and my world.

” Positive and negative words affect us on a deep psychological level and have significant impact on the outcome of our lives.”
“The Neuroscience Behind Words” – Business Relationship Management Institute

But positive words have effects too, positive effects!

” A single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”
Dr. Andrew Newberg- “Words Can Change Your Brain”

Dr. Newberg states that exercising positive thoughts can quite literally change one’s reality.

In fact, those positive words and ideas produce not just an illusion of truth, but a positive view of ourselves; and a positive view of ourselves, trains our brain to see good in others, because over time, our brain starts to change. (Dr. Newberg)

There is power in repetition. The more we read, speak or listen to a thing or idea, the more it controls us. Our brain uses repetitive words and phrases to search for meaning and make connections for us. That’s why –

” A repeated weak message is more powerful than a strong message heard only once.”

One single, repeated message can change your mind! (and life)

I know you beleive me. Look into your life and the words that have bombarded you. Look at their affects. Whether it be from a parent, teacher, friend, spouse, pastor…whether it be from the news, government, or CDC. ONE SINGLE, REPEATED MESSAGE CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND.

Words build present and future, but our thoughts are what become our words. That’s why I would like to challenge you to consider your thoughts. Because by exercising consistent, positive thoughts and speech, we change and how we see the world changes.

Therefore, I am calling on you to be intententional about what words you are reading, listening to and speaking. Turn off, shut out, and stop the negative words that have controlled your life. Now is the time. You can do it.

But then, your focus must be shifted to positive words and energy. Here’s a suggestion.

Write these 5 word pairs on a 3×5 card, or post-it. Heck, use several and make more than one. Then place these cards where ever you spend the most time. At your desk, on the bathroom mirror, on the car dash, near the remote control or game controller. Wherever you need to see these positive words repeatedly.

Authentic and Real
Honorable and Admirable
Beautiful and Respectful
Pure and Holy
Merciful and Kind

THESE are the words and thoughts that can change your mind, your outlook and world. These repeated messages will cange the way you see yourself and others. By focusing on the positive, the good, real, honorable, beautiful, pure and kind, we will begin to believe those things. It won’t be an illusion. It is truth.

The influences in our society are repeating ideas and words that are becoming reality to some of us. What a tradegy.

But we hold between our ears the world’s most powerful computer with the ability to reframe reality. Words predict behavior. Words become thoughts. Thoughts become actions. Actions become habits.

Let’s take the first steps to begin retraining our brain – away from the negative, ugly and destructive and turning to the positive, beautiful, and hopefilled.

Now, go get those cards or post-its and start that list. 🙂 Today, a new, repeated message begins, because we are thinking on these things, speaking these things, and watching only these types of things. We are shutting out and turning off all other negative words, ideas and influences. We are choosing to focus on those things that are:

Authentic and Real
Honorable and Admirable
Beautiful and Respectful
Pure and Holy
Merciful and Kind

This is no illusion of truth, this is the truth.

Cheers to you,

Debbie

Is There Not A Cause?

June 6, 2020Blog, Personal Growth, Sunday SermonsDavid, Esther, for such a time as this, is there a cause, wordsdebio7 1 Comment

Sunday Sermon 6.6.20

What does it take for you to speak up? What lines need be crossed before you stand up? How fast must your heart pound before words emerge? What is your tipping point before verbal communication and action?

Our title today, “is there not a cause?”, is addressing those types of questions; very pertinent questions for you and me as we maneuver through this life and our exchanges with family, friends and society.

We will look at it’s setting, it’s meaning and its application to our lives. Then we’ll pivot to two other related stories before dropping the mic.

The nine foot, nine, giant Goliath, was standing on a hill “defying the armies of Israel”, and the armies of Israel were standing opposite him, on another hill “dismayed and terrified”. 1 Samuel 17:10-11

Goliath was “saying sharp things, bringing reproach, defaming and blaspheming” the armies of Israel and Jehovah. (Original Hebrew meanings)

When along comes a teenage boy, David, who’s been sent by his dad to bring a care package to his brothers on the battle front of Israel. David arrives in time to hear Goliath’s 40th day of sharp defiance and insults, and David begins to ask questions of the soldiers. 1 Samuel 17:16-26

As David heard and processed their responses, his heart began racing, the line had been crossed, the tipping point had been reached and he said, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26

After this bold declaration, you would think he would be applauded, but instead, his brothers ridiculed and harassed him, and that is when David said to them, “is there not a cause?”.

That phrase, in its original Hebrew renderings, really means:

“I have a word, a matter or thing to speak; it is nondestructive; and now is the time to share it and this is the exact circumstance for it to be spoken.”

David realized what he held deep within the character of his being and had woven into the fabric of his heart was being ridiculed, defamed, and blaphsmed, and there was something that he could do about it. And he would do it right now!

That phrase (is there not a cause) has everything to do with putting the focus on nondestructive speech regarding a matter – but also emphasizes it being done at the right time and place.

David’s line had been crossed and he knew it was the time and place for what was welling up inside of him. He knew his experience had prepared him for this time and place. He knew he was able and he paid no attention to those who ridiculed him. He just bent down and picked up the stones, hurled one and nailed Goliath’s big ole head. David knew a big headed, defiant giant was a target he would never miss. And he didn’t!

David knew he had a cause. He had the right word for the right occasion, at the right time. He slung it expertly and hit his mark. He earned victory for the whole nation.

There is a similiar story in Esther. She was the Queen of Persia and had hidden her Jewish identity to King Xerxes. Her fellow Jews had received a death sentence, so her Uncle begged her to ask the King for mercy. His words to her were,

” Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”
Esther 4:14

Esther realized she too, had a cause, she had a message to speak and this was the time and this was the perfect place. Now, was the appointed time.

She spoke to the King, a solution was given and her people were spared destruction. The entire Jewish nation was spared.

Our last story, is of King Solomon; he gives us a beautiful image in Proverbs 25:11, where he says,

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is the right word at the right time.”
King Solomon

Solomon was perhaps looking at beautiful arrangement of fruit on his banquet table, when he made the analogy and suggested to us:

fitting words are compared to something elegant, beautiful, very tasteful
well thought out responses will benefit all
rightly spoken words bring refreshing
elegant, meaningful words are lasting words
rightly spoken words are valuable, treasured, precious

The context of Solomon’s apples in Proverbs 25 falls in a list of words that are NOT beautiful and words that are beautiful.

Not beautiful, not rightly spoken words: strife, gossip, boasting, false witness.

Beautiful, rightly spoken words: reproof, truth, faithfulness, forbearence & gracius words.

Our words and their power are being called on. Causes are calling – in our family, in our friendships and in our society. Fashioning responses to hit their mark is our goal. Rambling, empty, babble is useless. Beautiful, rightly spoken words are our goal.

I pray that the spirit of David stir in your heart and you see your cause and know your time and circumstance to speak.

I ask for the favor of Esther to be upon you and for you to see that your voice is needed for such a time as this.

I trust that your words will be elegant and refreshing and valuable to those to whom you speak.

Because there is indeed a cause.

Go with God.

Perspective is everything

January 16, 2020Blog, EncouragementInspiration, perspective, wordsdebio7 Leave a comment

Sometimes the way we take what we hear is wrong. Our interpretation is off. Sometimes we are in need of rehearing it, through a different filter, with a different perspective.

Sometime ago a decision was made regarding me that was shocking. Life altering and affected every area of my life. I was told, “we’re letting you go”.

If you’ve ever heard those words, you know. It knocks the breath out of you. Especially with no previous indicators!

And if you haven’t, then you can imagine. (And give thanks.)

That statement played over and over for months in my head. My emotions were wrecked. I was stunned. Hurt. And so much more.

Until I heard those words through a different filter. Until I processed them differently. Until another perspective dawned on me.

It was time for me to go. My time there was up. There was another direction for me to go in. That place was releasing me into something else. I needed to go that new direction. (Whether I wanted to or not at the time.)

It was time to GO. I was being let go. Go, Debbie. Now is the time to go.

Wow!

That perspective changed my life again and for so much good.

Words are powerful. So too, is our interpretation of them.

Be encouraged, that even when the most shocking words are hurled at you, our perception of them is key. Listen yes, but in time ask yourself and reevaluate “what was really said?”

Cheers you you.