no and not now are powerful words

Dec of 2008, God used a short clip/image from the movie The Matrix, (where Neo says No and stops the enemy's bullets https://youtu.be/SkQbZnb7Q0U); to illustrate the saving power of the word "NO". 

You know how sometimes you hear or see something and it just clicks and brings what I call revelation, where a concept you have heard or read before becomes fully real and "activated" inside of us. (epitome) Well this was one of those times. I quickly developed a successful strategy for the self defeating thoughts that bombard me: "just tell them no" and they stop and fall away.  Such a simple yet profound practice (notice I didn't say easy).   

I was able to apply this by adding a "not now" type of phrase to combat the feeling of importance or urgency which makes theses thoughts so persistent. The "not now" phrase gave me permission in the moment to deal with the feeling or thought later (if needed), which helps put my mind at ease enough to let myself actually mean no when I said no, because I knew I wasn't going to ignore something that might actually require action on my part. It assured me that if needed, I would take care of it when I was able to respond rather than react. 

As the sun goes down my self-discipline and discernment significantly weaken.  Back in 2009-2011 it became habit to just tell my negative thoughts and emotions "No. It's dark, if you are still there in the morning I will deal with you in the light (and Light of God)." It worked! It made a huge improvement with my negative words and my attitude. Instead of reinforcing the negative thoughts I was able to release and dismiss them and enjoy the moment. I found that fairly often, the next morning what felt important or urgent or dire or critical the night before wasn't; and the things that were truly important or urgent I was able to respond to more reasonably and wisely than if I had reacted.  

However, over the last 5-6 years my consistency with this powerful practice has waned significantly. 

This morning, after playing back (in my mind) the my thoughts and worse yet my words spoken as the sun set and my energy, discipline, and discernment dissipated last night, I realized how I reinforced negative and even untrue ideas/feelings. I not only did that to myself but by speaking them, did so to the people around me. UGH!  

Then I remembered the practice of "just say no" to these thoughts and feelings. This morning I not only have the illustration from the movie but also my own personal successful experience with this practice, to encourage me to do better.  And as I type this I am also reminded that my pastor even taught and had us practice "fasting from" negative thoughts and words in the first 40 days of this year. Not letting our imaginations run wild is a biblical principle (2 Corinthians 10:5 is just one of many verse that address this).

So this morning with a new sunrise and a new beginning, I am determined to start saying no to my negative thoughts again, especially at times when I am weak. 

I will say to my negative or unhelpful thoughts or worries:

"NO; it's dark. If you are still there in the morning, I will deal with you in the light." 

-and-

"NO; I'm tired/hungry. I will respond to when I am at rest/peace/fed, if you even still exist then."  

I will say NO to negativity, allowing me to be present and aware of the best direction/action to take, and allowing me to be more fully aware of the good stuff right here in this moment.  Negativity has a way for distracting us from the good stuff.  I don't want it any more.  Not even in my private thoughts. 

I am grateful for this reminder.  And I have made sure that I have put this "tool" back on my "tool belt".