“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
-Author Unknown

I stumbled upon this quote earlier in the week, and it hit me powerfully. All week, I have been reflecting on how much our thoughts influence the direction of our lives. This morning, I also read a wonderful blog post about not allowing saving money to consume us.

This and other reading I have done this week has caused me to ask myself one central question:
What am I allowing to define me?

Am I thinking about things that are true and beneficial, or am I allowing my thoughts to be dominated by negativity and self doubt? What have my actions said about my inner thoughts this week? Have I been acting in a way that is consistent with who I say I want to be?

Today, I plan to take some time to reflect on what I am thinking about myself, others, and God. From time to time, I think we need to check-in and take stock of what we are believing. It is so easy for lies and negative thoughts to creep in and become a permanent part of our internal dialoge. I find it helpful to journal in these times of self reflection. I have been been known to make a list of lies or negative thoughts I have been believing and then write a list of truths I can replace them with. I haven’t done this in a long time, and I think I am long overdue for a thought check up. Part of why I am writing this is so I will be held accountable to actually doing it :).

I hope these ideas are helpful and encouraging for you today. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” -Paul in Philippians 4:8-9