Ways to Help Us to Transform Our Thoughts, Words, and Actions

Who or what captures your attention during the day? Who or what do you routinely think or obsess about?

We are shaped by who or what captures our attention and occupies our thoughts. We create and form preconceptions of reality, where we constantly compare, evaluate, and judge what we experience through our senses and thoughts. Our thoughts are influenced and framed by how we perceive our experiences with our cultures, our family, peers, and significant others, relationships, groups we associate with, and our other life experiences. What we assume about someone or something may be erroneous and based on our faulty misconceptions and judgments, as well as our subconscious, negative images of ourselves that we project onto others.

We can get caught by and become attached to thoughts arising in our mind about regrets of past events that we can't change, and apprehension about a perceived future that has not yet occurred. As a result, we can miss being consciously aware and experiencing the unconditioned reality that exists in each present moment.

For example, have you ever been so engaged in performing a particular task with complete awareness, that time seems to just pass by? Or have you ever stood on a beach and looked out at a sunset, in awe of its beauty and splendor, experiencing a moment that transcends your very being? Have you ever held a newborn in your arms, looked at her innocent face, and experiencing that you are in the presence of the divine being manifested through her?

Fortunately, we can transform our thoughts that, in turn, transform our behaviors and actions. In turn, our positive behaviors and actions can inform and transform our thoughts.

Follows are some suggestions for you to consider that may help in transforming your thoughts, words, and actions, and cultivating qualities of selflessness, empathy, and compassion:

Seek to be God-centered rather than self-centered. Desire to see as Christ sees and to respond how Christ would respond to a situation. Regognize that there exists an overarching spiritual reality whose unseen forces and energies can affect and be manifested through material reality. This requires us to surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit. Allow the Spirit to challenge your preconceptions and guide you towards truth, goodness, and beauty that is grounded in love.

Strive to stay fully engaged in the present moment wherever you are, without judgment or comparison. In other words, we see reality as it is in that moment, free of our mental constraints and preconceptions. For example, if you are eating, be fully engaged and focused on eating, rather than thinking about something else, or reading a newpaper. As you chew the food, experience its feel, texture, aroma and fragrance, any sounds made as you eat it, its taste and flavor. Take a moment to express your gratitude for the sunlight, earth, air, water, minerals, and the people who grew, harvested, packaged, transported, and provided the food to you.

Take time to observe, correctly understand, and to question your biases, assumptions, and preconceptions about matters presented to you. Consider alternative viewpoints. Don't be afraid to ask questions or help from others to gain a better understanding.

Seek truth, goodness, beauty, and wisdom. Be mindful of what you read, listen to, and watch. Surround yourself with uplifting content that inspires growth. Seek out books, podcasts, websites, and conversations that expand your horizons and understanding of life and its purpose, meaning, and interconnectedness. However, do not ignore those resources that may present thoughts or worldviews that are different than yours, or that may challenge your preconceptions about reality. These can also lead you to truth, goodness, beauty, and wisdom, provided you experience them as spiritually uplifting, life-affirming, and life-exhancing for your soul.

Take time to learn about others, who have different experiences, or the interpretation of these experiences, than you may have. Seek to actively listen to others without judgment, striving to understand what they are trying to convey to you, not only their thoughts but also their feelings. Seek first to understand and then to be understood. Celebrate with them their joys and successes without envy.

Give priority to making dedicated time each day to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, words, and behaviors. Seek to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Through self-awarness you can create time and space within you to consciously choose your responses to situations that arise rather than reacting impulsively. To gain insights into your inner self, engage in the practice of self-reflection through self-surrender to the Holy Spirit, prayer, lectio divina with scripture or sacred writings, meditation, centering prayer, the Daily Examen, quiet contemplation, reciting mantras such as the Rosary, attending adoration, journaling, and other practices that are available, such as those offered in various pages and posts of this website.

Our attitude shapes our experiences and our experiences shape our attitude. Seek to cultivate a positive mindset by consciously choosing gratitude, resilience, and hope. When faced with challenges, ask yourself: “How can I learn from this?” or “What opportunities does this situation offer?” Challenges can often be the best teachers. By asking yourself these questions, you can turn obstacles into opportunities for growth and learning.

Seek to strive to let go of an ego-centered or self-centered mindset and to grow towards being other-centered. This requires empathy and compassion for others. We are called to love others—to will the best for the other. Sometimes this requires us to first forgive others.

The people we associate with significantly impact our mindset. Surround yourself with those who recognize your inherent dignity as created in the image and likeness of God, who uplift, inspire, encourage, and challenge you when needed, who love and accept you for who you are, and what you can become. Seek out groups and communities that align with values that promote peace and are life-giving and life-enhancing. In turn, seek to be a person of peace, whose thoughts, words, and actions are life-giving and life-enhancing for others.

Cultivate humility. Recognize and accept that you have certain abilities, talents, gifts, and limitations. Growth can happen when we venture beyond what feels safe and comfortable. Try new things and be willing to embrace discomfort. Through learning a new skill or connecting with new or different people beyond your comfort zone can expand your horizon and transform your mindset.

Volunteer your time and talent to help others in need without any expectation of recognition or reward. Reach out to others with random acts of kindness.

Remember, transformation is a gradual process. Be patient with yourself, celebrate small victories, and keep moving forward. As you transform your thoughts, you’ll begin to discover a life that is more meaningful, more abundant, and one that aligns with the underlying spiritual reality of God that is the ground of all being.