Renovations are so popular on Australian TV. It seems that as viewers we just love watching makeovers of every description. There’s the Biggest Loser – a show dedicated to helping people give their body a major overhaul. Then there’s The Block and House Rules where rooms and entire houses undergo a dazzling transformation. And who could forget this oldie but goodie, Backyard Blitz – where we watched Jamie Durie and his team turn someone’s ugly duckling suburban plot of ground into a thing of beauty.
Watching amateurs and professionals come up with ideas and choices that lead to stylish and glamorous revamps, can be quite inspiring. One feels impelled to look around the place to see what is in need of a spruce up. Yes, it might well be a favourite room, a loved home, a garden space, or even one of the most popular makeovers today – one’s appearance. As a teenager I recall wanting to be ‘trim, taut and terrific’, as the saying goes. I did so want to have a look-alike body of Australia’s super model, Elle McPherson. Well … one could always dream!
However, the other morning as I snuggled under my doona, I thought of a different kind of renovation that could very well happen – one that doesn’t deal with outward things that others can see. The one I’m thinking of is more private in nature. It’s personal and intimate. I call it: Renovating your thinking.
Now, before you click away from this blog, thinking that perhaps I’m slightly dotty, take a moment to consider the idea I’m proposing. I know that Renovating your thinking might seem a radical proposal for a program, but it could be a life-changer for any participant.
After all, who wouldn’t want to exchange dark and gloomy thoughts for bright and happy ones? Or, who wouldn’t want to strip away tired and worn out patterns of thinking and replace them with sparkling, fresh ideas? And what about taking down those inhibiting mental barriers to healthy living? Doing so could lead one to discover a completely different view of how to achieve mental and physical freedom.
In warming to my TV program concept, I’ve figured out how my show might work. For a start, there’d be no panel of judges. No one would be critiquing the results. Each participant would decide if he or she felt more positive, at ease, happier, or healthier. So here’s what would take place.
A person taking part would be asked to mentally step back and carefully examine his or her thinking. Any pessimistic notions about healthy living would require replacing with positive, hopeful thoughts. Worry about future wellbeing would be overhauled with the prospect of retaining a normal, stress-free life-style. Seemingly ingrained negativity towards aging, would be traded in for the expectation of retaining independence and mental alertness, regardless of passing time. Any old layers of anxiety would be peeled away to reveal peace of mind, and fear of illness transformed with thoughts of wellness.
So if an individual wanted to emerge triumphant in the Renovating your thinking program, here’s what he or she might do.
● Take a look at each thought that comes to the door of thinking. Is it positive, heath-giving, and healing in nature, or negative, fear-generating, and harmful to mental wellbeing? Make wise thought-choices.
● Don’t be alarmed when certain conditions are present that are thought to bring about ill health, such as heredity, contagion, or accident. As Mary Baker Eddy – a pioneering mind-body leader suggests in her book Science and Health, take health-generating action and “shut out these unhealthy thoughts and fears.”
● Perhaps employ spiritual thinking and practices. More than just being an exercise in positive thinking, such measures have made me feel connected to a divine healing power. The result for me has been better health and successful thought-makeovers.
Thought renovation! Think of the multiple and unique benefits it might bring to an individual. Apart from inhabiting a happier frame of mind, someone might turn out to be more confident of being well and staying well. Someone else could possibly go on to live a healthier, happier life. Another person may achieve freedom from crippling doubt and fear. There are as many great outcomes as there are renovation opportunities.
I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
Beverley, thank you kindly for your so spiritual approach to our human thinking and for your clear steps to change or transform the positive thinking towards the spiritual one. It is just a joy to think this way. Thank you sincerely.
Thank you so much Michael for your kind comment. Lifting thought from the human to a spiritual level does indeed bring greater health and improves overall mental and physical wellbeing. It’s truly worth the effort to renovate thought. There are as many great outcomes as there are renovation opportunities.
Thanks very much for the helpful ideas on how to revamp my thinking. I intend becoming an immediate participant in the Renovating your thinking program! I’ll expect to have first-hand experiences of “successful thought-makeovers” and “great outcomes”.
Thanks George for becoming a participant in my ‘renovating program’. Well done. You can expect to experience splendid outcomes. I’m certain you’ll find lots of benefits. I’d be interested in hearing how you go.
Great blog this morning Beverly. Over the last couple of months I have had help to renovate my home by painting, replacing blinds, curtains and carpets etc. and generally giving everything a makeover. What a difference. Loved the idea of renovating my thought. It presented a fresh way to approach the day and I started as I went about my day today. Mary Baker Eddy mentions in her book ‘Science and Health’ to “Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realised in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously.” Thank you for the very helpful blog. Love Yvonne
Thanks Yvonne for your comment. It sounds like you’ve been very busy giving your home a make-over. Glad you were pleased with the result. Good too that you’ve started on renovating your thought. Loved that quote from “Science and Health”. I know you’ll be pleased with your thought-makeover. Much love to you too.
Boy, you come up with some very “thought renovating” ideas Beverly ! I love this one, especially when I think about these television programs like “House Rules” and “The Block”. The most effective way that they were able to transform their “space” was to completely get rid of all the existing problems, clear it all out and replace the “old with the “new”, This reminds me of Jesus’ teaching, when he said that you can’t fill containers that are already full, that we had to get rid of all our incorrect concepts and wrong thinking to allow for truth to be received and therefore “renew our minds”. Love it ! Now to put it into practice….
Thank you Anne. So glad you like my ‘renovating’ thought idea. Good point about how contestants get busy clearing out the old clutter to make room for their new makeover. The same applies to thinking as you say. You can’t renew your thinking while worn out and unproductive thoughts clutter it up. I can tell that you are going to enjoy putting this into practice.
“Such a great program idea. I’d watch! Your blog has come at just the right time for me. I needed to remind myself of God’s love for me, instead of taking in a mortal concept of myself. Thank you for once again.”
Thank you Kerrie for your comment. So glad you liked my ‘renovating your thought’ idea. Good to know that it was timely for you. It’s easy sometimes to look at one’s self and not be happy about what is seen in the mirror. It’s comforting then to be able to discard those dissatisfied thoughts and embrace a lovelier view of one’s self. Lovely is not only who we are, it’s what we are.