Last week I ran across a quote that I’d like to share with you:

Thoughts affect emotions.

Emotions affect decisions.

Decisions affect your life.

Take a moment to let that sink in.  In short: Thoughts, emotions, decisions, life.

Have you ever sat stewing on something that was bothering you?  Deep in thought, you are physically in the same room or even vehicle with someone, yet you are a million miles away.  You are so deep in thought, so into what you are ranting and raving about in your head, that you do not notice the faces that you are making that are a dead giveaway of the not-so-nice-thoughts that are swirling around in your head.

Before you know it, you are so wrapped up in your thoughts and rehashing things from when someone did you wrong in the past, how you would have reacted differently if you had more time to think before processing the bad news you received, or what you would have said if you weren’t so shocked and dumbstruck at the time.  Then you get all fired up mad about the situation all over again.

Remember this!  God gave you the grace to get through that moment in time.

He gave you HIS grace so you would have the shock absorber that was HIM holding you at that moment in time when you were going through this.  If you keep backing up, though, you might be on your own.

I also saw a picture on Facebook of what a guardian angel might look like with someone that just continues to make bad choices.  The guardian angel sits slumped over holding her head in her hands.  Imagine now, if you would, that God is doing the exact same thing each and every time you back up.   Oh how I wish there was one of those loud beeping things that commercial trucks have on their vehicles so that everyone knows when the vehicle is backing up so they can get out of the way.  Because believe me, when you get stuck in your head and your thoughts begin to affect your emotions, people would be very appreciative if they had a warning.  You know what comes next … those ill thoughts become ill feelings, and before you know it, you are acting out in a manner that, if you were thinking rationally and not reacting emotionally,  you wouldn’t normally do!

Yes … thoughts … emotions … decisions … life.

The decisions that you make when you are feeling emotional due to the faulty thoughts you had in your head DO affect your life.  Not only that, but they affect those who share their lives with you … your children … your spouse … your parents … your brother or sister … your coworkers … your friends.  See how this all comes together?  It isn’t just YOU stuck in your head.  The moment you act out based on your thoughts and emotions, it is a decision that you alone made and it affects your life and the lives of others around you.

Please … get out of your head.  If something is bothering you, take it to the person that can do something about it.  GOD!  Pray about it before you speak it to another person.  Take it to God FIRST.  Then, if you can calmly speak to the individual that your thoughts are swirling around about, take it to that person.  I must caution you not to be accusatory, though.  Calmly approach the person because chances are that your mind was running away with you and half the stuff you dreamed up in your head isn’t even true in the first place.  Check with the source as soon as you can proceed calmly and with tact.  It will save you from having days and weeks wasted holding a grudge or a big chip on your shoulder.

Think before you act.  What you do today will affect your future tomorrow!

Thoughts, emotions, decisions, life.  Indeed!