Think

Think

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

I WORKED AT A NEWSPAPER for several years. As a copyeditor, it was my job to read the paper from cover to cover and check for errors. While I enjoyed the camaraderie of the newsroom, over time, it became difficult to shrug off the heaviness of the stories. Though there were many heartwarming stories about people doing great things in the community, there were also detailed descriptions of wars, injustices, and deaths around the world.

Over time, I became wary of my surroundings when driving home late at night. When I headed to bed, gruesome details would return to my mind, making it hard to sleep. I even had a security system installed in our home since I was frequently alone. The lingering negativity resonated so much that I resorted to reading children’s books in my free time, hoping their lightheartedness would provide an escape and boost my mood. Though I tried to think of what was pure and lovely, my mind was filled with some of the ugliest parts of humanity.

What we think about matters. That critical comment about us that lingers in our mind? That experience in our past that still haunts our present? Our desire to read the comments on an incendiary story? The impulse to let TV news or our social media feed be a low-level murmur in the background of our day? All of those play into something that researchers call negativity bias. Our brain reacts more strongly to negative stimuli than it does to positive stimuli. In fact, researchers have found that a five-to-one ratio is required for us to overcome negative stimuli. Every time we see, hear, or experience something negative, it takes five positive interactions in order to overcome the single negative.

Overcoming negativity bias requires intention, yet taking our thoughts captive is essential in helping us view the world with discernment. When we choose to fill our minds to overflowing with the truth of God’s Word, the beauty of this world, and the love we have for others, we can counteract the negativity that impacts us.

Lord, help us think of the true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable things of this world. Amen.

-Kristin

One Good Step: Write down something negative that’s bothering you. Now, write down five positive ideas or experiences to counteract the negative one. Intentionally choose to focus on the positives.