Hello beloved child of God and welcome to the last part of “How To Change Your Life-Lenses”.
In the previous days we talked about how the perception with which you see your life can affect your thoughts, your emotions and your health. Also, we talked about two methods on how to change our life-lenses.
- The “Then and Now” method
- The “Counting the cost” method
Today we’re going to talk about the last method which involves taking action but which I will call “Reverse The Lens”
You’re going to think this is so obvious.
Your life-lenses push you to take specific actions right? And you feel like you just can’t help it because that’s how you’ve “always been” right?
You’ve trained yourself to act this way, and the same way you trained yourself to act that way, you can train yourself to act the opposite way, to reverse your lens.
Most often in the church (amongst Christians) we believe that we have to change what we think inside so that our behaviour from the outside will change but at times, it’s not about starting inside, but about just taking action and doing the right thing from the outside and then we will see lasting change.
We spend so much time waiting on God to change us, while He’s already done all that had to be done. It’s now up to us to just go out and do the right thing.
Jesus Christ already said “It’s finished” , it’s done, it’s established. So instead of sitting down and crying about your life-lenses which you think you can’t change, just start behaving with faith like you already know that your life-lenses have been reversed.
John 19:30 NIV
When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed his head and gave up His spirit.
You will be blessed in the doing and not just in the knowing.
James 1:22-25 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
It serves little for you to know that there’s a problem, if you don’t do what is needed to solve the problem.
So, in the method Reverse the lens you’ll be required to write out how you’re going to behave as from now and then just go out and do it. The more you’ll do the right thing, the more you’ll rewire your brain and then it will become natural to do the right thing and to walk in renewed life-lenses.
Here below is a table of examples of reverse actions you can take. You need to make your own table, according to your problematic life-lenses and the areas you struggle with. If anything in the following table fits with what you need adopt it too.
This table was highly inspired from the Anxiety and Depression Workbook for Dummies.
NB: In looking for action steps which are opposite to your problematic life-lenses, make sure that you don’t do anything sinful. For example a perfectionist may think he is required to make a mistake and see what happens. Making a mistake doesn’t mean you have to go and commit a sin. There are trivial mistakes like wearing the wrong colour of socks. So please, don’t indulge in anything sinful because you’re trying to reverse a life-lens.
Example: Reverse The Lens Action Steps
| Life-Lens | Opposite Lens |
| Unworthy
I’ll do something nice for myself every week (ex. going to a beauty salon, pampering myself) I’ll ask someone for what I want I will look at myself in the mirror everyday and repeatedly tell myself that I deserve that good things happen to me |
Entitled
I will refrain from demanding that others meet my needs I will learn to meet my needs myself I will donate to charity |
| Abandonment-fearful
I will resist checking on my loved ones so often I will quit asking for reassurance that my spouse loves me |
Intimacy avoidant
I will reveal more about myself and express my feelings to my friends who are trying to draw closer to me I will join a group at church and I will work hard to know other people there |
| Inadequate
I will intentionally do something which I feel unqualified for (ex making a speech) I will learn something new which I think is difficult (ex a new language) |
Perfectionistic
I will wear two different-coloured socks and see what happens I will try to make as many trivial mistakes as I can in one day (saying good morning at night, going in on an exit door, wearing a shirt with a stain on it, trying a new hairstyle which just doesn’t look perfect on me etc.) |
| Guilty and blameworthy
When I will feel guilty about something I will: ask a friend if I’m too hard on myself, ask The Holy Spirit if I’m too hard on myself When I feel at fault I will look at myself in the mirror and say “You are not your faults, you are not your mistakes” |
Guiltless
I will work hard to find something to apologise for at least once a week I will admit to making mistakes |
| Vulnerable
I’ll do something I’m afraid of, such as taking driving lessons, talking to a stranger in the bus etc |
Invulnerable
I will volunteer in a hospital to see what can happen to people who ignore risks I will start wearing a seat belt I will watch documentaries on the subject to see what can happen to people who ignore risks |
| Help-seeking
I will do a project on my own every week without asking for help I will help someone else without asking them to |
Help-avoidant
I will ask someone for help on something once a week I will start asking for directions when I’m lost |
| Under-control
If I have a drugs/alcohol/addiction problem I will join a support group I will join a gym and develop self-discipline I will learn to say no to others even when I want to please them |
Over-control
I will allow my spouse to make more decisions I will let my spouse drive more often |
Now, go ahead and make your own Reverse the lens action steps table and don’t just read it, put it in practice and observe how you feel doing it.
In the beginning you’ll be reverting to your old life-lenses behavioral patterns, but with more exercise by God’s grace you’ll see your life-lenses change little by little and you’ll see practical changes in your thoughts, feelings and life in general.
Prayer
Father Lord God Almighty, I don’t just want to be a listener or a reader, I also want to be a doer, putting in practice what I have learned, and changing my patterns, help me Lord, thanks to Your Holy Spirit who lives in me, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
It’s Now Your Turn
In the comments section share about which action step looks easiest for you and which one looks more difficult.
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Invitation
Click here if you’re looking for a church. I recommend Elevation Church to you. A wonderful Christ-centered Church in which you aren’t limited by your location and in which you can see what God can do through you.
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God bless you
Victoria Eyog
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