Change Your Narrative: 3 Ways To Change Your Life!

If you searched the keyword change your narrative, and it’s brought you here, then I believe you have taken the first step to a renewed life in Christ.

If you’ve ever watched the movie Groundhog Day and related any part of your life to it, then take heart because you are not alone in thinking that way. It’s the feeling of being stuck in a rut. It’s like you’re on an endless merry-go-round of frustration, anxiety and fear, that is keeping you in a dizzy fog. That my friend is known as a stronghold – a negative mental trap. So, how do we break this cycle of bondage?

1. Recognise That There is a Cycle

First, we need to recognise that there is a cycle. A pattern that is lived on autopilot. It’s those norms in our lives that have been built over a period of time and stem from deep-held beliefs. Some are good and some are not so good.

Our culture, wounds, disappointments, experiences and peer socialisation, have a direct bearing on our beliefs and mindset.  These all become pivotal points around which our perceptions develop and these play out in our actions.

In Romans 7:15-20, we see that the Apostle Paul understood this all too well. He said he didn’t understand his own actions and often found himself doing the very thing he didn’t want to do. This he said was due to his sinful nature.

It was a rooted behaviour that he felt he could do nothing about because it was tied up in the law of sin and death. We, like Paul, may have stayed in this hopeless condition had it not been for Jesus redeeming us and freeing us to change our narrative.

2. Identify Your Mindset

To change your narrative, you need to understand why there is a mental trap and what it is. In Deuteronomy 30:19, the Bible identifies two mindsets (or mental choices) – the first is Life and the second is death. We are told to choose life. Choice starts in the mind before it becomes an action.

Renowned Psychologist Carol Dweck’s research suggests two mindsets as well – growth and fixed mindsets. A growth mindset believes certain things are changeable with concerted effort over time and the other thinks nothing can change, that it is what is. One creates a passion for learning and the other a need for approval.

I listened to a talk entitled Finite thinking vs Infinite Mindset and a lot of what the speaker Simon said really resonated with me. When I looked at it from a Christian standpoint, I found that an infinite mindset is closely linked to a life mindset.

A life mindset is a stronghold of hope (Zechariah 9:12, Colossians 1:27), it doesn’t centre around oneself but rather around eternal things, and in this case Christ. When we have the mind of Christ, we flourish. When we set our minds on things above, we don’t live by comparison or in competition with others because Christ is the cause that we live for. He gives our life purpose and meaning. He implores us to leave an inheritance or legacy for our grandchildren (Proverbs 13:22).

This is a life mindset because He is our life and He came to give us life and that to the overflow (John 14:6, John 10:10). Having this mindset is the first step, you need to take to change your narrative. So how do we jumpstart it?

We start with our thought-life. Let’s look at why thoughts are important.

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3. Choose Your Thoughts

In Philippians 4, Paul encourages the people to rejoice in the Lord always and again to rejoice. They are to let their gentleness be known to all men because the Lord is at hand. He then tells them not to be anxious for anything but rather to let their prayer requests be known to God, and that the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!

He spent most of the previous chapter telling them to fix their mind on Christ and to use his example in doing that. He understood that character and conduct begin in the mind. He had taught himself how to be abased and how to abound in all situations and it had nothing to do with external circumstances. He set his mind on Christ.

Thoughts can be fleeting so it’s important to know what things to dwell on. What we give our attention to shapes our lives. So first off, we need to rejoice in the Lord and then do it again. Find joy in God regardless of your circumstance. Don’t give anxiety a place or a foothold because it will lose us the peace of God and become mentally draining.

Fortunately Paul left us a basic blueprint of how to think and what to think on.

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. – Philippians 4:8

1. Whatever things are true. Every thought should start with truth. It’s easy to believe wrong things. Knowing the truth and operating in it sets us free (John 8:32).
2. Whatever things are noble. Don’t become enthralled in petty things. Think about what is honourable and morally excellent. What you keep company with affects your morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). 
   
3. Whatever things are just. Let your thoughts center around justice and fairness. Be selfless – not self-centered. Don’t allow revenge thoughts to fill your mind. The foundation of God’s throne is righteousness and justice (Psalm 89:14)
   
4. Whatever things are pure. Practice self-discipline in your thinking. Don’t just let your thoughts run wild. Take your thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
   
5. Whatever things are lovely. Think about things that are towards love. Is what you thinking moving you towards a loving attitude towards yourself or others? (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
6. Whatever things are of good report. Regularly look for good news to meditate on. News that is reputable and shared with good intent. Don’t allow the likes of gossip, slander and negative world-views to fill your mind (Exodus 23:1).
   

Conclusion

So if we want to change our narrative, we should start by identifying that a change is needed. Transformation will come through applying the renewed mind that Paul speaks of in Romans 12:1-2. To do this we need a source – a starting point. We have to determine what our benchmark or standard is. If God created all things then it stands to reason that He should be our go-to for all things. Our minds are like computer systems, what you put in is what you get out of it. GIGO = Garbage in is Garbage Out.

It’s easy to locate what people think on because it comes out of their mouth. Luke 6:45 says “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.“

So in conclusion, ask yourself “Is what I am thinking on praiseworthy? Does it have virtue?” If you answered yes, then just as Paul said – think on those things. What you think on matters. Thoughts are power containers and you have to guard them (Proverbs 4:23).

It all starts with a God-focused routine. Declare God’s word often so that your own ears hear it and pray in the spirit daily. Being repetitive and rehearsing it will allow you to input a new way of thinking so you can develop a life mindset. Change your narrative change your life and in so doing end the cycle of bondage.