Scary Story
Self Sabotage
Feeling unprotected is a hard habit to break.
It's really hard if we've experienced some pretty significant pain, rejection, or abandonment early on.
In my spirit, I know that God loves me and protects me with his strength and love.
But in my mind, I sometimes let that voice of fear start storytelling when I am triggered.
It usually goes something like this:
Someone says or does something that makes me feel rejected, scared, offended, or hurt.
I overreact internally and begin to listen to the voices of fear that blow things out of proportion and try to convince me they don't like me, don't want me, or are making fun of me.
The voices of fear then begin to demonize them and convince me that I should retaliate with the same treatment or leave altogether.
Steps 2 and 3 happen habitually and subconsciously. If I am not mindful, I accept the stories being told in my mind as fact, not fiction.
The interesting thing I have learned is that these voices are not just fear-based; they are trying to protect me.
So when these things happen, I have to interrupt the story, use the NBAK tool (Notice, Break, Again, Kindness), and ask myself two questions:
What story am I telling myself? Is it fact or fear?
How is God protecting me in this situation?
When I catch myself sitting in storytime, 99% of the time, the stories are indeed NOT fact.
I usually uncover that God is teaching me something important as He keeps me safe in His arms and that no matter what, I am going to be okay.
It takes discipline and mindfulness to stop ourselves from building unnecessary, hostile resentment.
We must force ourselves to scrape off anything untrue or holding us back before it sticks to us.
I am building a habit of trusting in God's protection, even when the stories are factual, and people do hurt or reject me.
We have the power to choose what we hear and believe.
We have the power to ask questions and seek the truth.
That includes the stories that are being told within our own minds.
God is always there to help us do some fact-checking and show us who He is in every situation we face.
God is with us, always and forever.
Proverbs 3: 5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.