Thinking Good Thoughts

Hey, do you think I took enough notes? 

I felt pretty disgusting last week.

I usually work out every day, and I’ve been trying to eat as healthily as possible.  Normally this means a healthy breakfast (green smoothie!), healthy lunch (big salad!), and a somewhat healthy dinner (roasted veggies and fish and ok maybe a cookie!)

But being out of town always throws me off.  Due to an all-day meeting, I was forced to skip working out.  And being ridiculously busy, I didn’t pre-plan my meals.  Combine this with my Olympic-winning excuse-making powers, and I made some pretty funky choices.

Breakfast: Peanut Butter Cookie Lara Bar

Lunch: Nutter Butter Snack Pack

Snack on My Way Home When I Really Should Have Just Eaten Dinner for Goodness Sakes: Half a Jar of Creamy Jif Peanut Butter  

(You may have noticed that I have a Peanut Butter Problem.  I mean, I don’t even pretend to grab carrot sticks anymore.  I eat this stuff straight up out of the jar).

Allow me to explain.  I was in LA for an all-day meeting.  After an unsatisfying lunch, I thought it would be a great idea to grab a snack before I hit the road for what was going to be a long drive home.  It should have only taken me an hour, however on that particular day, it was raining.  And in Southern California, rain = Armageddon Panic Time.  Not only was it raining, I was driving on the 405, aka Hell’s Freeway, which plays host to some of the worst traffic in the country.  I knew it would take me a while, so clearly I deserved a snack in the form of a jar of peanut butter (see above regarding gold-medal-award-winning excuse-making).

The next day I woke up, totally disgusted.  My jeans felt a little tighter.  And my face seemed a little fatter.

I looked at myself in the mirror and all kinds of horrific thoughts excitedly popped into my head. 

Well you’re looking pretty fat today. 

I can’t believe you did that, you idiot!   

You’re completely disgusting.

My thoughts can spin out of control so quickly.  And if I let them, they could go on forever.   

That’s when I need to do a Double-Check.  (Side note: isn’t Aaron Rodgers the cutest?  I mean no one will surpass Peyton in Athlete that Makes the Best Commercials Ever, but Aaron’s got potential.  Yes, Aaron, Peyton and I are on a first name basis.  Yes, I’m going through football withdrawal).

Our thoughts are so powerful.  And good or bad, true or not, I believe them. 

I was reminded in an inspirational sermon by Rick Warren yesterday that it’s important to manage my mind because

My Thoughts Control My Life.

BOOM. This is seriously one of the most convicting statements I’ve ever heard.

It’s a constant struggle, because we're constantly bombarded.  Especially when my jeans are too tight, I don’t have time for a workout, or I just mess up.  

But instead of letting these dangerous thoughts continue, I need to feed my mind with truth, free my mind from destructive thoughts, and focus my mind on the right things.

Be careful how you think.  Your life is shaped by your thoughts. Proverbs 4:23

I know I won't change overnight.  But remembering that I can choose to focus on the good thoughts- that’s a game-changer.