Leaf Brain Detox Days 7 & 8

I am having so much joy in this!  Today, Day 8 was almost freaky J.  I ‘do’ the exercises before I ‘do’ the daily download.  Based on her scientific expectations, Dr. Leaf was spot on with what thoughts and insights I had jotted down!  Isn’t that cool?  At the same time as this, I am blessed to be taking a ‘healing through scripture’ course of study.  The tie-ins have been phenomenal, and they help me feel like I am gaining even more spiritual territory.  Again, it is not that any of this is brand new.  God has revealed most of these things (often repeatedly) over the years.  This process helps me focus with power—and retain the Truth I have in m y unconscious.  My prayer is that you will experience the same if/when you try this.

Cool science facts: 

• the unconscious mind is tremendously faster than the conscious mind.  Much stays hidden in that part of the mind until something triggers its action.  The Leaf program trains you to discipline the conscious mind while planting (and pruning) the unconscious. 
• Maybe I said this one, but it’s worth repeating 75-98% of all illnesses begin with wrong thinking.  The chemical soup generated whacks the body out of health.

Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship  Thanksgiving—Yesterday I was impressed being created for God and placed in the world.  I ‘left’ on the altar a bowl of distractions; they separate me from my divine purpose.  Today I asked for the root of my distractedness (that was one of those freaky things…the ‘lesson’ said Day 8 is the typical day for the Spirit to reveal the root).  It was hidden but when exposed, I see how I live out of this lie:   fear of failure.  I actually wrote:  “Fear that God will ask me to do something I cannot.” Now I know He wouldn’t and that I can do all things…but I don’t always live like I know that.  ANOTHER cool thing--at the end of the lesson, Leaf said:  “God will never give a thought you cannot carry out.”  Almost a verbatim assurance for what I had written.

Praise—Surrounded by the plans and purposes of God…the pillar and the fire of the OT is with me.  Then today, I saw the blessing of struggles (emotional or health); God designed my body and soul to experience struggles when I am away from Him! SO: He is within me and without me.    

Worship—Planner of all planners makes sure that everything points me to Him.  He is an all-consuming God.

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Gathering Thoughts  Distraction is destructive.  Need to let the Master Planner focus me on the next needful thing.  Today, I was impressed with being made in His image.  I am meant to be aligned with him and his purposes.  ALL that happens is part of that design.

Focused Reflection Placing all things in His hands for orchestration clears my path so I can move in the direction He desires.  I can trust His covering—I need not fear.  My active reach of yesterday kept reminding me, He is around me.  All that happens is to be seen as his guidance.   And today, that which is within is the same.   It doesn’t have to distract me, it is to focus me and move me toward Him..

Journal  Pillar of cloud, pillar of fire…around me and in me for good purposes.

Revisit/redesign Thoughts Toxic thinking blocks divine purpose.  Ecclesiastes 3:11.  God has EVERYTHING in view at all times.  Peace in being aware of that.  There is power and potential in that awareness.  AND today as I realized that fear of God’s unknowns was at the root of my doing (because I DO what I know I can), I saw how vital breaking those branches has been for the past 7 days.  I couldn’t even seen the root because the toxicity blocked it.  Today, I could hear the thoughts: Who do you think you are?  If you listen to God, you’ll put burdens on others.  You don’t deserve to enjoy this kind of blessing.  ALL LIES!  My mind is beginning to know what my Spirit has known all along J. 

Active Reach – Another bracelet; blood red stones.  I’m covered, encircled by the plans set before time.  Today…apple ear-rings because EACH of us is the apple of His eye.

Daily Disclaimer:  Welcome to my walk through Dr. Caroline Leaf’s 21-day Brain Detox.  This is a mini-glimpse (and filtered by my personal oddities) of her awesome research.  It is no where near a replacement for her program.  I hope you can enjoy the program personally. The program includes extensive explanations, videos and follow-up support.  I believe it is a good value for the $29.00.  The sign on site is here:  http://21daybraindetox.com/

Day 5 & 6 - Brain Detox with Dr. Leaf

Day s 5 & 6…sorry about that.  I forgot to write anything yesterday.  But I have my notes, so I’ll just combine both.  The unchanging process may make this too dull for writing daily J.  We shall see.  Here’s a different thought for me…Attitude IS State of Mind.  It makes sense but I never thought of it that way.  I think I’m more inclined to excuse a poor attitude than I am a state of mind, so the phrasing helps me be more accountable.  Other tid-bits Dr. Leaf has offered that impacted me are:  We are thinking beings.  The mind is incredibly powerful—creating impact on both soul and body.  She actually says the mind is second in power only to God. 

Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship  Thanksgiving—I love that I’m not left alone to do this life.  The general theme of what God wants me to release so I can feel His presence remains the same.  I think He is showing me branches from that root.  That overwhelming sense of responsibility generates fear that I’ll mess something up; it gets me stuck.  Today I saw that often my faith rests in me…in what I can do.  Fear about what I can’t do, cripples or depresses.  Praise—The surrounding love & protection of God pressed in on me yesterday.  Today it was the sweet image of my coming to God bringing joy to Jesus.  (He danced you know J).   Worship—Creator of the Universe.  Planner of eternity.  Personal Friend.  Wow. 

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Gathering Thoughts  My tendency is to multi-task…maybe as a ‘mask’ for unproductivity.  If I accomplish bits and pieces here and here, I have an excuse for what is not done.  (I need an excuse because that is how I find my value.)  Vicious cycle.  I wonder how many baby trees I have cluttering my head—almost like weeds—from multi-task thinking.  Strong trees have many branches; I need to focus on one thing at a time…in growing and producing.

Focused Reflection God puts a banner over me proclaiming “I love this one.”  He wants me to bring others to Him for their own banners, so we can reveal Him to the world!  Perfect love casts out all fear.  Letting Him plan, frees me to be draw into Jer 29:11 by truth & love.

Journal  My little stick figure has Jeremiah 29:11 as its core…and figures with banners of love abound. 

Revisit/redesign Thoughts God IS in charge.  Will I let Him be?  Will I keep in view the reality that He uses everything for good?  It’s my choice.  (Speaking of that, Leaf also reminds:  every thought produces a choice. To be in control of my mind (and the impacts it has), I must put the thought in the light of truth and choose whether that thought stays or goes.  Not to decide is to decide to let it stay and take up mental real estate, producing yuck.  Right choices tell the brain to produce proteins that in turn produce chemicals related to health and well-being.)

Active Reach – ‘Wordless book’ bracelet as a reminder of the Planner of Eternity J

Daily Disclaimer:  Welcome to my walk through Dr. Caroline Leaf’s 21-day Brain Detox.  This is a mini-glimpse (and filtered by my personal oddities) of her awesome research.  It is no where near a replacement for her program.  I hope you can enjoy the program personally. The program includes extensive explanations, videos and follow-up support.  I believe it is a good value for the $29.00.  The sign on site is here:  http://21daybraindetox.com/

Day 4 - Brain Detox with Dr. Leaf

Day 4!!  Honestly, I woke up rather flat and weary…my body whining and my mind already thinking there was more on the days list than I could manage.  BUT…I’ve been through my ‘process’ and my devotion time and am feeling much better!  The Science explanations from the video today said the chemical rush of change is subsiding.  That alone intrigues me…no wonder starting things is easy.  Now, physical changes are occurring in the brain that require protein and sap energy.  She shared a fun fact:  the human brain produces more electricity than all the cell phones in the US (I think—maybe world).  Brain work IS work!!

Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship

Thanksgiving—He never gets tired of us coming to Him, asking what is keeping me from You, from all I can be.  Wow, long-suffering.  He must really like us J.

Praise—Just basking in His desire for my company.

Worship—WHO He is, how He loves. 

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Gathering Thoughts  Instructions included reflecting back on Active Reaches of yesterday.  Reminder to allow no thoughts to enter w/o checking them in the Light of the Word.  This is powerful for me.  My physical body aches this morning; I’m weary.  Riesa has added a new job—which impacts my schedule and highlights my failure to get her on the ‘license’ path sooner.  That sense of failure, whiny marytrdom and inability was hovering.  But in the light of the power and mercy and grace of God…none of it can drown me! 

Focused Reflection His Word says as my days are my strength shall be.  Where sin (which also includes my failures and missing the mark) abounds, grace abounds more.  Instructions encouraged picturing freedom and used a verse from Genesis that says nothing imagined is impossible.

Journal  Picturing freedom…dropping weights that are not mine to carry.  Able to address what God wants done!  Wahoo!!

Revisit/redesign Thoughts Created for work that He designates.  He will provide; He will use the weights to re-direct and re-shape.

Active Reach

The “B” reach from a couple days ago makes sense to me.  I will symbolically clench and unclench my hands before tracing the ‘B’ to remind me to let go of what is not God-assigned. 

I continue to be drawn to the Science part of this.  Continued discipline is hard.  God gave me a persistent personality that has amassed quantities of knowledge to draw on but this focused attention seems like a potentially more efficient process.  What is happening in your soul and spirit?

Daily Disclaimer:  Welcome to my walk through Dr. Caroline Leaf’s 21-day Brain Detox.  This is a mini-glimpse (and filtered by my personal oddities) of her awesome research.  It is no where near a replacement for her program.  I hope you can enjoy the program personally. The program includes extensive explanations, videos and follow-up support.  I believe it is a good value for the $29.00.  The sign on site is here:  http://21daybraindetox.com/

Day 3 - Brain Detox with Dr. Leaf

So Day 3, Dr. Leaf cautions against a ‘blah’ feeling of no progress.  Perhaps because I was so blah the first day, I’m feeling good about this today.  It intrigues me that none of this is ‘new’—God has pointed out the same things countless times before.  I’ve known these ‘idols’ and known the ‘Truth’ for years.  It’s moving that head knowing to the heart!

A twinge of hope says patterns of distractedness—notice, forget, notice forget—are a common spiritual truth that can be changed!  Wouldn’t it be neat if 21 days of focus on the Christian living roadblocks that have cropped up for decades will actually destroy them?! 

Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship

Sweet thanks for the ever-present power and presence of God  He’s always loving me…even when I don’t ‘feel’ loveable.  God showed me the link between ‘people-pleasing’ and ‘doing’ that robs Him of thanks—and me of joy.  More on that later.

Praise.  Hard one for me today as the Spirit put in mind Jesus’ words to Peter…if I don’t wash your feet, you have no part of me. I dumped my ‘doing’ on His feet when I placed it at the throne; I wanted to clean it off but He said, no.   I like to do and not receive but His presence was in ministering to me today.  How gracious, persistent and sweet He is!

Worship:  King of Kings, Lord of Lords….my friend.  How can it be???  WOW. 

Gathering Thoughts  Those Five Senses ARE a filter.  Dr. Leaf reminds daily that NO THOUGHT should enter our mind, unchecked.  There is great power in that!  I noticed the gray sky & thought of the different activities/needs of the day.  That we go different directions on Sunday now…that I cannot help my loved ones feel Jesus…things I don’t ‘like.’  The colors, the thoughts were weighty but I would not have acknowledged them w/o this endeavor.  Even worse, I’d have ‘survived’ but not put them in the Light of the World, JESUS.  He just lifted that weight.    He’s got this!

Focused Reflection I realized God is showing me, I am one of His.  He is not expecting me to solve things on my own.    Just like we feed the birds at the window, I am one of his ‘birds.’  He puts feeders down and enjoys seeing me enjoy them.  He doesn’t need me to orchestrate things; He needs me to come to Him and receive from Him.

Journal  I saw the world as full of the creativity and love of God…and I am just one of those dots of love and creativity.  What a bounty to enjoy.  I drew a picture of our window feeder and a bird sitting upon it…and a picture of feet reminding me I need Him to help me daily.

Revisit/redesign Thoughts Serving others, working is how I ‘feel’ accepted/acceptable.  I want to be of use, valuable to others.  I find my value in what they value…and it is a cycle that I cannot sustain.  I think of seniors isolated in a nursing home…I don’t want to spend my last decade or however long worrying that I am of no use.  I want to KNOW that He is able to use me no matter what…I believe it for others.  I want to believe it for me! 

Active Reach

I’m still visiting my first two.  But today my birds remind me:  God loves every sparrow and me!  He knows the hair on my head.  ALL those sparrows are His (not mine). 

And I’m grabbing a pin of ‘feet’ that I have…a pin reminding of the value of unborn babies but a pin that will serve to remind me, I am His baby who needs His care.

So:  How is it going with you?

Daily Disclaimer:  Welcome to my walk through Dr. Caroline Leaf’s 21-day Brain Detox.  This is a mini-glimpse (and filtered by my personal oddities) of her awesome research.  It is no where near a replacement for her program.  I hope you can enjoy the program personally. The program includes extensive explanations, videos and follow-up support.  I believe it is a good value for the $29.00.  The sign on site is here:  http://21daybraindetox.com/

Day 2 - Brain Detox with Dr. Leaf

So, officially this is Day Two, so you’ll be getting a combined glimpse in this post.  I didn’t do very well with Day One J.  It was a chaotic, out-of-schedule day.  Today feels better so far—but it’s early yet.  I also find it hard to enforce the time discipline she encourages.  I see the power and potential in 7-10 minutes and will be working on that aspect.  Also, the program provides downloads that help me…but you can easily create your own.  Have a place to jot your journal stuff…and keep a Toxic Thought/Active Reach log.  All of which will make more sense as we go on!

I don’t have a solid plan for sharing in a way that may offer benefit, but I’m trusting the Spirit of God to use the effort (you’ll see that fits well with Toxic Thought One).   I will begin by putting this in her format and giving you a glimpse of what that looked like in my mind.  I would love your input and questions!

Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship

I love the distinctions she offered in this spot.  Thankfulness that God cares about the stuff of life is HUGE.  Enjoying the reality that He didn’t leave me here alone to solve everything is sweet.  In Thanksgiving, we seek to know what Toxic Thought the Spirit wants us to work on.  Yesterday for me, it was taking on all things as my responsibility. 

Dr. Leaf speaks of the toxic thoughts as mountains we need to have removed (cool scripture picture there).  Casting that destructive thought aside is exciting.  Visualizing leaving that thought at the throne of God and thanking Jesus for that privilege is cool.

Praise is enjoying the very presence of God.  Phew!  It’s very hard for me to rest on the work of someone else…to receive comfort.  So, in my mind, I enjoyed reaching up for His hand to conquer a mountain and sitting next to Jesus and leaning on Him like John at the Last Supper.  SWEET!

Worship:  the One who made the world in all its beauty, the One who created the Universe…awe at who He is…and how He loves is cool.  (By the way, this is the piece that Leaf reminded us yesterday engages ALL the brain.  It is what releases all those good chemicals that change our entire body…and our soul!)

Gathering Thoughts

Tuning in to the Five Senses is cool!  Quiet focus is not common for me.  How about you?  I tend to receive and react without noticing.  As I did this the last couple days, the noise of a busy home was forefront.  Some physical discomfort wormed its way in…and the weight of a packed schedule plopped itself in my mind too.

Acknowledging the reality of the thoughts has an interesting power. It helps me realize I don’t have to be moved by it.  Leaf says 4-7 thoughts in this brief time period are typical…and that the majority of them will not be ‘heath-ful’ is also typical.  BUT she also says this begins the process of breaking down the wrong thinking.  COOL.

Focused Reflection

We can’t deal with every wrong thought, but the Spirit will elevate one to focus on.  The thoughts we gathered produce ‘feelings’ we need to acknowledge…asking what impact I feel in my body and mind increases awareness.

Yesterday (as I shared early on), mine was an excessive burden for the activities and happiness of others.  Today, the Spirit zeroed in on distracted thinking. That clearly is a branch from yesterday:  assuming others problems means I have multiple things I’m trying to accomplish at one time.  Yesterday, my focus was ‘problem ownership.’  Today, my focus will be on the next most needful thing!

Journal

Now this is supposed to be a 1-2 minute piece on what God is showing in the earlier pieces.  HUGE challenge for me especially as I know in the back of my mind, I’m trying to capture the process to share.  Definitely an extra mountain J.  Because I am wordy, I plan to try to draw what I feel here.  I’m not an artist at all, so this will help me focus. 

Revisit/redesign Thoughts

Leaf explains this piece uses the soul realm to change the body realm.  Our physical brain is designed to obey our mind (remember the soul is mind (thoughts), emotions and will).  Allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our spirit, powers our soul properly.  Cool stuff.

The personal aspect of this piece is kind of being woven throughout the blog post I think.  Becoming aware of thoughts is the step to seeing where they don’t line up to Scriptures we know.  The Truth is our plumb-line and only the Word can show us where we need to be in our thoughts. 

Yesterday, I recognized that Jeremiah 29:11 is true for all…but it is not my responsibility to bring everyone’s good plans about J. 

Today, this part helped me focus on the reality of things that are needful.  Life does require action BUT my value is in my connection to the Lord.  Being not doing is most needful…then, the actions will flow.

Active Reach

This is the tangible activity (mind or body) to reinforce right-thinking.  The goal is to implement this at least 7 times during the day.  I only managed 3 or 4 yesterday.  My active reach for yesterday was conscious thought that each of us must seek God’s purposes.  No one can do that for another.  I intended to look for God in those situations that stressed me, but I didn’t do that so well.  Today is a new day!

Today I am going to focus on ‘Being.’  I intend to visualize a “B” to remind me and/or trace a “B” on my palm with my finger when I need the reminder.  The next most needful thing will get done J.  Be blessed.  I’d love to hear your progress.  19 days to go!

Daily Disclaimer:  Welcome to my walk through Dr. Caroline Leaf’s 21-day Brain Detox.  This is a mini-glimpse (and filtered by my personal oddities) of her awesome research.  It is no where near a replacement for her program.  I hope you can enjoy the program personally. The program includes extensive explanations, videos and follow-up support.  I believe it is a good value for the $29.00.  The sign on site is here:  http://21daybraindetox.com/

Overview of the 21-day Plan

Daily Disclaimer:  Welcome to my walk through Dr. Caroline Leaf’s 21-day Brain Detox.  This is a mini-glimpse (and filtered by my personal oddities) of her awesome research.  It is no where near a replacement for her program.  I hope you can enjoy the program personally. The program includes extensive explanations, videos and follow-up support.  I believe it is a good value for the $29.00.  The sign on site is here:  http://21daybraindetox.com/

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This first blog will just give you the overview.  I will begin the personal aspects tomorrow. 

The program is based on scientific research about how the brain works.  Dr. Leaf has 25-years of personal experience in the arena of brain research.  The foundational concept is “what we think about grows.”  The program is set for 21 days based on the time needed for establishing habits—but it is a repeatable, life-process to employ.  The goal is to tear down ‘wrong thinking,’ establish proper replacement thoughts, and work those thoughts out. Half-hearted, stop and go practice will not produce results.  The science of the process documents physical changes in the brain…but it is based on how the brain works and requires 21-day commitment.

The program presents a 5-step process to practice daily.  It is a thinking strategy (ask/answer/discuss) program with deliberate action.  Participants will practice conscious awareness of the presence of God.  It is not a “New Age” emptying of the mind of positive affirmation process.    In her personal account, she explains that she does this to start the day and during any stressful moment. 

Step One:         Thanksgiving, Praise & Worship – distinctly different things.

                        Thanksgiving, opens phone line

·        Ask God what he wants you to work on:  kneel at Throne of GRACE – put it down and thank God He is listening, that He died, that He cares, that He knows the way out and will listen to you.

Praise, feel His presence

·        He inhabits our praises, hold His hand, receive His hug or sit on His lap…

Worship, He acts

·        Focus on His worth ship.  Total God-focus.  Bless Him.

GOAL:  Get eyes off self.  God wired us for worship.  When we worship, our entire brain ‘lights’ up; it releases ‘our inner self—our God-designed self/our spirit’ to be free..

Step Two:        Gathering Thoughts:  become aware of what is happening in the head; use the five senses to determine input (God gave us a body for a reason J ) and know what is on your mind.

Put thoughts in the light of truth.  See self in the hands of God; know the wrong thought process cannot stay in the presence of God.  This begins the literal process of breaking wrong thinking down. 

Step Three:       Focused Reflection

This step requires deep intellectual asking, answering and discussion…talk with self and Spirit.  How do the thoughts make you feel in your mind and your body?

Step Four:        Minimal Journaling – A written ‘picture’ of first 3 steps.  (2-3 minutes)

Step Five:         Revisit/redesign Thoughts – specific plan for destroying toxic thoughts

Ask the Spirit to reveal to you the patterns or meanings of what you’ve discovered.  Ask the Spirit what He desires for you—the healthy thought you need to build.  This takes General Thoughts to specific ones.  The root of visible behaviors becomes clearer.

ACTIVE REACH:  Implement the decision (whether words or actions) from previous steps.  Aim for 7 implementations per day.

I'm excited...I think it may be more challenging to write about than I had thought.  My prayer is that all of us will become more like Christ in the next three weeks!  What do you think?  Questions, comments, fears?

Growing together by Changing our thoughts

It has been a very long time since I've added to this blog.  As the years have progressed, my writing typically has a specific focus, and I place articles accordingly.  This blogspot began as a place 'to ramble and grow' with others.  I have decided to do a little 'brain journey' for the next 21 days and want to blog about it with others.  So, here am I to invite you--and warn you of incoming posts :).

If you have never heard of Dr. Caroline Leaf, you are in for a treat. Dr. Leaf is a Christian first and a brain doctor (real and legitimate practice for years) second.  She has some amazing research that weaves the depths of Scriptures into our minds.  She has a 21-day program to take folks on a journey to faith-based thinking.  She teaches that there are only two paths in our minds:  faith or fear.  As she explains, God wired us for faith.  Anytime we chose a fear pathway, our bodies react negatively.  Research indicates 80-90% of all physical illness relates to unhealthy thought patterns.  That 21-day program is what I will be enjoying and blogging about--and hope you might want to do the same.

Read more about her program here:  http://21daybraindetox.com/  and http://drleaf.com/blog/finally-the-online-21-day-brain-detoxtm-is-here/

My plan is this:  I will follow the program, blog about and hope others will do the program as well and/or comment.  Let's grow together.  Are you in?