Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier.
Thomas S. Monson
I love this definition of hope, it makes it an action verb and shows its relationship to faith. Just like a muscle, faith and hope grows and gets stronger as we use them. You may wonder how do we use our hope and faith. Everyday I coach clients and we deal with fears and limiting beliefs. I have them write down this phrase: More stage time = Greater power. Our minds are like a stage and thoughts that we allow onto the stage of our minds are the thoughts that we are giving our power to. We need to be very careful that we are only giving power to those thoughts that serve us, therefore we MUST watch our thoughts.
Mosiah 4:30
But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/4?lang=eng
Alma 12:14
For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/12?lang=eng
From a religious perspective, as you can see, there are more types of thoughts that we should be sure we are not giving power over our lives.
So, what I tell my clients is that I am a visual person and I vizualize my mind like a stage and when limiting beliefs or fears (same thing as doubting), or thoughts contrary to a disciple of Christ, enter my mind, I invite my bouncers up on my stage and have them grab that thought. Now, limiting beliefs and fears are very strong because they bring their big brother emotion along with them every time. This is also one of Satan’s greatest tools to have us feel and crave sin. So, I have my bouncers grab the thought and it’s emotion and I visualize them escorting them both off my stage and out of my life, and I say these words, “I delete and erase you.” Our minds are very obedient and when we tell them to do something they obey. The next step is very important. Brendon Burchard (the guru I do coaching for) always says that “a power plant doesn’t have energy, it generates energy.” This is our opportunity to generate the feelings and emotions that we want to serve us. I invite my bouncers into my audience and they bring the thought that I want to serve me up on stage, and then I generate the feelings and emotions for that thought. As I do this is say, “I replace you with ______.”
This whole process is putting our faith to work, which was initiated by our hope. Hope for a more positive, abundant, fulfilled, successful, or righteous life.
Very inspiring and helpful post! Thanks Craig.
I am glad that you liked it. Thanks for commenting.