How to Control Your Thoughts

In his work with those who struggle with sexual addictions and compulsions, I found a common denominator: each of them struggling to control their thoughts. Even when not acting out, these people constantly report that their thoughts can be just as pornography and lustful as the images are viewed one. While thoughts like these are never useful for the sex addict, they can become more frustrating when one wants to begin to recover and have to learn how to get rid of those thoughts in their entirety. But there is some good news for all of us who want to change our lives! Instead of fighting against our thoughts, we, instead, you can learn some easy to use "thought stopping" techniques that will help us to refocus our minds on something more useful. Here are three useful techniques to get you started.

Stop your thoughts from the conversation.

Try this simple experiment. In your mind mentally start counting 1:00 to 10:00. At some point, begin to sing out loud. All this will do, try "Mary had a little lamb." Now, did you notice what happened? instant you start singing your mind stopped thinking about counting. This is what I think is all about stopping it. We do something that breaks our thinking and places our attention on something else. If you do not like to sing, do not worry, says aloud works just as well.
Here is how I use this technique. When a thought comes to mind that I want to move, I thought the end with a positive affirmation positive. Since I am a big fan of the Bible, I like to use the scriptures that are meaningful to me. One of my favorites is, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, old went to the new has come." It has great power in repeating the sacred words and positive affirmations. The beauty of this technique is that it gets a certain feeling to replace negative thoughts with something that is powerful and uplifting.
Just say no!
More easy to use thought stopping technique mentally think or say out loud: "NO!" or "STOP!" Every time you have unwanted thoughts. Here is how the technology works. When a thought comes across your mental screen, you do not want to have fun, think or say an emphatic "NO!" Then, the deliberate attention to move on to something else, as a positive affirmation.
Over the years, I have used a modified version with a large effect. Here's how it works. When a thought comes to my attention that I want to stop, I mentally say "Stop!" If no one is around, I actually say this out loud. Next, I reach my hand into his pocket and take a smooth, blue glass stones (like the kind you can buy in craft stores for garnish). I look at the stone and say "thanks!" I chose a blue stone, because it is the color I associate with spirituality (do not ask me why!). I found a stone soothing to the touch and it reminds me that God is always nearby. Moreover, as I said, "Thank you", I find that I am reinforcing properties of gratitude in my life. Sometimes, before taking a blue stone from my pocket, and just focus on its smoothness. May other people find more convenient and comforting to wear a religious object for their means of focusing attention.
Thought Changing
Finally, an easy to use, thought stopping technique is I thought replacing . This technique attempts to replace the thoughts we do not like the one that we do. There are many ways to do this, but here's how it works for me. There is always someone in my life that is in need of prayer. When unwelcome thought occurs, I quit, saying he thought a short two-sentence prayer for a friend in need. One week I think I prayed at least 100 prayers for a friend who was dying of cancer! One of the great things about this technique, the ability to stop thinking about myself thinking about the welfare of someone else.
Things to keep in mind
There are only three things to keep in mind as we use these techniques to stop thinking. The first is that we should not keep replacing the positive thoughts. When we find ourselves going back to negative thoughts, we would never criticize him for going there in our minds. We only practice thought stopping technique as quickly as we can continue. For all of us, it takes time to develop an awareness of conscious thoughts that come across our minds. It is important to practice these techniques whenever I need.
Another thing to keep in mind that these techniques work best when combined with physical activity. It is easier to stop the mental process when we combine physical action with something like speaking out loud, physically touching something or listening. For example, in the second technique, we combined the physical act of touching the stone with verbalized action, saying: "Thanks." more physical senses we use, the better.
final thing to keep in mind is to be prepared. When you use the technique again, try and keep in mind the affirmation that you want to say. When using the "Just Say No" technique, make sure you have the appropriate object in your pocket or purse to touch. If you use a "Thought Exchange" technology, you'll have a few people in mind to pray for.
My Favorite
of the three techniquea mentioned above, I like the first one of the best. It is only because it seems to work best for me. I find it efficient and easy to use. It stops my negative thoughts dead in their tracks! I found that the second technique works well especiall for those times when it is inconvenient to speak aloud. I never found the time when it seemed inappropriate for me to touch my smooth blue stone.
I encourage you to try these techniques and see which one works best for you. All of them can be changed to suit your lifestyle. Thought stopping is a simple but effective way of transforming your thinking.