Ever since I started strength coaching, I have emphasized that our thoughts matter and impact how we lift weights. Are we distracted? Then we are at risk for getting hurt. Are we thinking that we can’t do something? Then we won’t be able to do it. Are we practicing negative self-talk, such as , “I can’t do this, I don’t want to do this or I’m not good at this" … it definitely impacts our performance! What goes on in our minds effects how our bodies react.

It’s the same in the spiritual life. Really, life in general. It’s a good spiritual practice to pay attention to our thoughts about ourselves, about others, about situations and about God as we seek to grow in holiness and to be more like Jesus to others.

From 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

It is good and holy to take our thoughts captive and to lift up our concerns to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the angels and the saints, with faith, hope and love rather than allowing negative self-talk to dominate our minds.

This is easier said than done. First we have to pay attention to our thoughts. When we interact with someone, are we looking for God in them and thinking about the good in them? When we make a mistake, or someone expresses disappointment in us, do we take it personally and get defensive or do we forgive ourselves and seek to learn from it? Do we think of Jesus as our loving friend and companion and ask him to help us in our difficulties — or do we complain that he’s not doing enough or not doing anything at all? Do we give in to fear and worry rather than asking, seeking, knocking and trusting that God hears and answers our prayers according to His will?

Most of the time, those thoughts that bring us down are sneaky — not overt — but when we begin to pay attention to them, actively taking those thoughts captive, and replacing them with loving, caring and forgiving thoughts, our relationships and our lives begin to change.

St. Thomas More said, “Occupy your minds with good thoughts, or the enemy will fill them with bad ones.”

Yes, the evil one seeks to destroy us, but we have Jesus living within us. We can ask him to renew our minds. We can live a sacramental life. We are not victims. We live in the victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

St. Paul urges us onward in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may demonstrate what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

I have started renounced negative thoughts out loud to myself, “I renounce the confusion and sadness of this situation and I declare the truth that Jesus understands and He is with me as I seek to resolve this.“

I’ve renounced fear and worry, doubt and loneliness, sloth and over-striving. Then I declare the love of Jesus to fill my mind. The result has actually been quite remarkable. The result is freedom. Freedom from thoughts that weigh me down, slow me down and bring me down.

In John 16:33, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Our lives will have trouble, suffering, turmoil and heartache due to the original sin of Adam and Eve that is in each of us. Jesus came to free us from sin and death with His abundant love; may we embrace this beautiful thought above all others.