You were created to thrive in life! Your leaves should never wither according to Psalm 1:3. Over the last two weeks, we’ve discussed things that cause your leaves to wither.  The first was dehydration and the second was pests. As you may have guessed, your “leaves” are the works of your hands and the things that bring you joy and fulfillment in life.

The third issue that will cause your leaves to wither is fungal disease. Fungal disease attacks the leaves and causes them to discolor and wither. In order for the plant to survive, the diseased portion has to be cut off and removed from the plant so the disease doesn’t continue to spread.

I like to think fungal disease is similar to your thought life. Your thoughts become your choices and eventually your actions and ultimately, your destiny. If your thoughts become “diseased” and poisoned, they will affect your life. You will no longer make good decisions or have a positive outlook. Negativity will become your norm and eventually your progress is stifled. If you are not moving forward, you are not growing and thriving.

How do you control your thoughts?

1. Realize when you have a negative thought. Rather than dwell on it, quickly reel it in and stop the process of nurturing it. Don’t continue to think about the worse-case scenario or all the negative “what ifs”. Example: I’ll never lose weight. I’ve tried for years and it never works. I can’t say “no” to good food. I hate exercising. I don’t have any energy.

2. Replace the negative thought with the opposite (positive) thought. Dwell on the positive thought and rehearse it. Example: I can lose weight with the proper support system and resources. I can say “yes” to eating healthy. I enjoy exercising.

3. Find positive material on which to study, read and meditate. The more positive information that enters your brain, the greater the chance that your actions will follow. Example: Read stories of others who have lost weight. Research different types of exercise and healthy eating habits.

4. Surround yourself with positive people and monitor your environment. At all costs, make sure your environment is positive and peaceful. Example: Spend time with those who are healthy. Get an accountability partner to exercise with you. Make your exercise routine fun and reward yourself.

Once you learn to capture your thoughts and think positively, your leaves (work, relationships, finances, health, emotions, etc.) will not wither. Stay tuned next week to discover how leaves wither because of viral infections and how you can attack the viruses in your life.

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.” – Mahatma Gandhi

If you missed Part 2, read it here: https://thewriteaddiction.com/2019/01/24/transformative-thursdays-the-leaf-that-doesnt-wither-pt-2/
If you missed Part 1, read it here: https://thewriteaddiction.com/2019/01/17/transformative-thursdays-the-leaf-that-doesnt-wither/

~Coletta Jones Patterson

Coletta is a life/business coach, business executive, author and motivational speaker who is passionate about helping others go beyond stuck.  Check out her new book “Beyond Stuck: Creating the Life You Want” on Amazon.com.  Connect with Coletta at info@moveu4ward.com.