The Power of Thought: Transforming Negativity into Peace and Goodness

We spend every waking moment thinking. Although it is impossible to know exactly how many thoughts we have per day, some studies estimate it is over 6,000 [1]. Even more alarming is the fact that an estimated 80% of our thoughts are negative—that is 4,500 negative thoughts per day. Though most of these thoughts may be quickly forgotten, our thoughts are deeply powerful and are reflective of who we are. The sheer volume of negative thoughts speaks to who we are, both as individuals and as a society.

We live in a society that increasingly abides by moral relativism, the idea that there is no objective right or wrong. One might commonly hear phrases like “do what you want as long as it doesn’t impact others” or “to each their own” as others’ justification for their actions. Additionally, many today believe that it is possible to separate our thoughts from our actions. Some argue that there is nothing wrong with thinking something bad, as long as you do not act upon the thoughts. After all, our thoughts are our most private possessions; we should be free to think whatever we want. According to this logic, our thoughts do not fall under moral standards, as they do not harm others. This is a naive way to view our thoughts. The reality is that 4,500 negative thoughts in our minds every day have an effect on how we view ourselves, others, and the world. 

If thoughts shape who we are, what negative thoughts dominate our world today? One study says that 60% of Generation Z has an anxiety disorder and, overall, young people today are struggling with mental health disorders and low self esteem [2]. Additionally, our society and college campuses are filled with extreme political polarization and hatred towards those with differing beliefs. The thoughts that we have divide us, affect our interactions, and prevent us from finding peace in our society. However, very few realize the power and moral importance of our thoughts and how they may be contributing to the problems in our society.

Psychologically, we cannot deny the power our thoughts have to influence our actions. Psychologist Monica Vermani explains that “​​Our thoughts have a ripple effect because they lead to our moods and behaviors. And our moods and behaviors, in turn, affect those around us” [3]. If our thoughts influence our behaviors and our behaviors affect others, we should pay careful attention to the content of our thoughts. As ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny” [4]. It has long been believed that our thoughts are at the core of everything and ultimately determine our destiny. Even though our thoughts are private, they drive our behavior, influence how we treat others, and undeniably connect our inner thought lives and our moral actions.

As a Christian, I believe that my thoughts shape who I am and therefore fall under moral standards. In the book of 1 John, John writes that “everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him” [5]. He equates even just a hateful thought towards someone with murder, one of the most blatantly immoral actions imaginable. In doing so, John places a high importance on the way we think about others. He argues that it is not possible to garner hatred in the privacy of your thoughts without it spilling into the reality of how you treat others. To go even deeper, Scripture focuses on how our core beliefs dictate our thoughts and our thoughts bleed into our actions. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus states, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness” [6]. Here, Jesus focuses on the idea that the things we do reflect the state of our heart. Christians believe that focusing their hearts and minds on God allows them to live how they were created to live. When they are controlled by negative thoughts, they believe that it is the effect of living in a broken world, and a lack of centering their hearts on God. 

So, maybe we can identify negative thoughts that plague our minds. But what do we do with those thoughts and what guidance do we follow to fight them? In the Bible, it is laid out simply: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” [7]. This verse explains how whenever we have thoughts that go against God, we need to take the thoughts captive and replace them with thoughts that point toward God. But it is not always easy to understand what it actually means to “take our thoughts captive” and if that is even possible.

Psychology has explored this idea of “taking thoughts captive” through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a widespread psychological treatment that targets negative thought patterns. An assumption of CBT is that “psychological problems are based, in part, on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking” [8]. This form of therapy recognizes the significance of our thought patterns and how mental health problems stem from negative thoughts. CBT is focused on challenging negative thoughts with truth, and in this way reflects the Biblical idea of taking thoughts captive. Additionally, stoicism, a school of philosophy, focuses on pursuing moral virtue in all that we do and eliminating negative thoughts and emotions. It claims that we need to “focus on the things we can control—our character, thoughts, emotions, and actions…If we can learn to do this, we can learn to develop a more resilient mindset” that allows for “an inner peace and contentment” [9]. Just like the idea of taking our thoughts captive, stoicism argues that we need to take control of our thoughts and direct them towards moral goodness and virtue and that this leads to inner peace. 

As a member of Generation Z, I am especially in-tune with the ways my generation attempts to improve our thoughts and overall mental health. Mental health is truly a top priority for my generation, and I constantly hear advice on improving our minds. One of the most common means of improving one’s mental state is meditation. Meditation is defined as “a practice that involves focusing or clearing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques” [10]. As written in an article from Goodnet, “In an era marked by constant connectivity and digital distractions, members of Gen Z are increasingly turning to ancient practices like meditation and mindfulness to navigate the complexities of modern life” [11]. Generation Z is desperate to find mental peace, and so they are turning to these practices that emphasize a clearing of the mind and eliminating our negative thoughts.

Science and philosophy rightly discuss the need to destroy negative thoughts but are lacking in their solutions. What do we center our thoughts on instead? If we are clearing our minds through meditation, what do we fill them with instead? If the solution is to fill them with “positive” or “good” thoughts, what defines a thought as positive or good? We end up back in the trap of moral relativism. A central flaw of moral relativism is that it is “inconsistent with the concept that true moral evil exists because it denies that anything can be objectively wrong. If there is no moral standard, then there can be no departure from the standard” [12]. In order to distinguish between good and bad thoughts, we need a greater moral standard. For Christians, this greater moral standard is defined by God. They believe that by setting their minds on God, they can find true peace in Him that will reflect in their actions and in society as a whole (see Isaiah 26:3 and Romans 8:6). For every consuming negative thought, Christians can feel confidence in countering those thoughts with good ones as defined by God’s truths. I have worked to counter negative thoughts in my life, especially those related to anxiety and hate, the very thoughts that dominate our world today.

As previously discussed, anxiety is crippling our society—especially young people—and I have not been immune to this. As much as anxious thoughts can feel out of my control, I have worked on redirecting my mind towards good. One way I have aimed to bring peace to my mind practically is through Scripture memorization. In a particularly stressful time in my life, I set a goal to memorize Philippians 4, a chapter that focuses on anxiety, setting our thoughts toward God, and finding peace in every circumstance. Every time I started to get lost in an anxious thought, I would repeat the Scripture I had memorized, reminding myself of God’s faithfulness. Using psychological strategies combined with what I believe to be truth, I was able to reframe my thinking and find true peace in the Lord.
Our society is extremely polarized and constantly filled with hatred between disagreeing groups. It can be hard to not respond to that hatred with more frustration, increasing the hate and polarization in our world. In moments like these, the way we choose to respond can either add to the division or help bridge it. I look to Jesus as an example of how to be with those I disagree with. As an article from Faithward explains, “Jesus did two key things when he was faced with conflict in the Bible: he stayed defined and connected” [13]. Jesus demonstrated what it looked like to stay true to beliefs while showing love towards others, knowing that love was not defined by agreement alone. How will you interact with those you disagree with? Will you add to the sweeping polarization in this world, or will you choose to take your thoughts captive and think deeply about how to treat others?  In a world filled with so much evil, it can be easy to fall into negative thoughts. By replacing these negative thoughts with good, we can slowly work to bring peace that betters the world around us.

References

1. Johnson, Charlotte. “Stuck on Negative Thinking.” CARE Counseling. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://care-clinics.com/stuck-on-negative-thinking/.
2. O’Connell-Domenech, Alejandra. “Over 60 percent of Gen Z have an anxiety disorder.” The Hill, October 2, 2023. https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/mental-health/4234365-over-60-percent-of-gen-z-have-an-anxiety-disorder/.
3. Vermani, Monica. “Positive or Negative, Our Thoughts Shape Our Lives.” Psychology Today, August 22, 2023. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-deeper-wellness/202308/think-about-it.
4. “Lao-Tze on How Thoughts Translate into Destiny.” HAC Bard, July 14, 2015. https://hac.bard.edu/amor-mundi/lao-tze-on-how-thoughts-translate-into-destiny-2015-07-14#:~:text=%22Watch%20your%20thoughts;%20they%20become,;%20it%20becomes%20your%20destiny.%22.
5. 1 John 3:15, ESV.
6. Mark 7:21-22, ESV.
7. 1 Corinthians 10:5, ESV.
8. “What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?” American Psychological Association. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral.
9. Weaver, Tobias. “What is Stoicism? The Basics of The World’s Greatest Practical Philosophy.” Orion Philosophy, February 14, 2024. https://orionphilosophy.com/stoicism-meaning-and-definition/.
10. “Meditation.” Cleveland Clinic. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17906-meditation.
11. Berman, Debbie. “Zen Generation: Gen Z is Embracing Meditation and Mindfulness.” Goodnet, March 2, 2024. https://www.goodnet.org/articles/zen-generation-gen-z-embracing-meditation-mindfulness.
12. Koukl, Greg. “Seven Fatal Flaws of Moral Relativism.” Monergism. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://www.monergism.com/seven-fatal-flaws-moral-relativism.
13. Taylor, Trisha. “How Did Jesus Deal with Conflict? Faithward. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://www.faithward.org/jesus-and-conflict/.