Taking Thoughts Captive

…casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…

II Corinthians 10:5

One of the facets of anxiety is a self-defeating part. Yes, anxiety is marked by worry- often irrational worry. However, another facet of anxiety can be an inexplicable negativity toward oneself. This aspect of anxiety is frustrating and difficult because it is so personal, so introspective, and it feels so defeating.   

I recently spoke with a client who was experiencing this aspect of his social anxiety, and I talked with him about positive self-talk. Positive self-talk is the intentional action of recounting positive things that we did or do. For example, I suggested that this client (who also has trouble sleeping due to chronic anxiety), to practice positive self-talk at bedtime about his good decisions during that day. It can be anything. He could recount perhaps exercising when he didn’t feel like it; or having resisted that junk food; helping a friend; encouraging someone; working hard at the job…

Yes, it could be anything. These are not artificial affirmations. These are simple recognitions of the good things we did that day. We tend not to recall such things because we see them as “just normal things” that people do. While that is true, we are trying to overcome an insidious anxiety that would have us believe that we are flawed or worthless. I just call this “fair fighting.”  

We don’t make up things about ourselves that are not true. We are simply valuing parts of ourselves that anxiety might have us ignore. Yes, this needs to be an intentional practice, and it is worth the doing. Telling ourselves the truth is an important way to take control of negative thoughts of anxiety.

Prayer: Lord, you have made us in your image, loved by you. Help us also to honestly love ourselves, Amen