Castles of the Mind | Your Longing Has a Name and a Hope

Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle

Imagine your future self

ten years from now.

What kind of person are you?

How are you different

from the person you are now?

Are you flourishing?

+ Dominic Done

Your Longing Has a Name

In the past few years, one writer who has emerged as a new favorite is Dominic Done. His first published work that I read was When Faith Fails: Finding God in the Shadow of Doubt. And now I've been enjoying Your Longing Has a Name: Come Alive to the Story You Were Made For this spring.

This post features excerpts from Chapter 9: Castles of the Mind, one of my favorite chapters from the book. Done invites us to take a step back from how our rapid firing thoughts (often fueled by what we're scrolling through on our cell phones) are forming us into more anxious and temperamental people. And then, by being still with God and ourselves, we can see how we might be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we respond to life with grace we've received and gratitude we can give.

The Architect of Imagination

Every one of us has a self 

we're forging.

What does it look like?
Are you more or less anxious

than you are now?
More or less generous?
More or less joyful?

Is your relationship 

with God thriving?

What about forgiveness?

What about addictions?

Let God transform you

into a new person 

by changing the way you think.

Then you will learn to know 

God's will for you.

+ Romans 12:2, NLT

Notice how God desires 

to reconstruct the architecture

of our imagination.

When we allow Him to change

how we think, then we grow

in our awareness of His will

for our lives.

Your actions matter, and if done virtuously and consistently, they contribute to the renewing of your mind. Healthy thoughts are the substrate of a healthy life. Proverbs 23:7 says: "For as a person thinks in their heart, so are they." 

Increasingly, researchers are discovering that your thought life is one of the biggest predictors and influencers of the kind of person you're becoming. Neuroscientists Steven R. Quartz and Terrence J. Sejnowski reveal:

"Every nuance of yourself,

the very fabric of your experience,

ultimately arises from the machinations

of your brain.

The brain houses your humanity."

The You Your Thoughts Create

Did you know your thoughts have the power to shape the physical structure of your brain? Every thought you have is an electrochemical event, producing signals that fire information through your nervous system. If certain thoughts occur frequently, connections are formed between neurons that get increasingly sensitive and strong, and eventually they form new receptors and synapses. These neural pathways produce a volume of physiological changes, affecting your emotions, perceptions, energy, sleep, stress levels, and cardiovascular and digestive health. Scientists now believe that thoughts even influence our genetics.

Every moment of every day, your body is responding to the substance of your thoughts. So if you're constantly focused on toxic and negative ideas — how you'll never succeed, how badly you botched a decision, how others gossip about your or dislike you, how underqualified you are, or how you'll never amount to anything — you're carving pathways in your brain that not only make it easier to continue thinking that way but will also influence the kinds of decisions you make in the future. Likewise, if you choose to dwell on the good — the presence of God in your life, His love and acceptance of you, how He has provided for you, protected you, healed you, and called you — those thoughts physically change your neural structure, making you more receptive to identify and experience God's favor.

Every time you give space 

and time to a thought,

you're conditioning your brain

to move in that direction.

Soon it becomes second nature.

If you focus on anxious,

harmful thoughts,

you're deepening 

your neural pathways.

Or if you choose to focus on

what is uplifting and edifying,

you're strengthening those pathways.

The peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and minds

in Christ Jesus.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable

 — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy

— think about such things.

+ St. Paul

(Philippians 4:7-8)

  

Just like a river finds the path

of least resistance,

the flow of your life inevitably rushes

toward your most persistent thoughts.

The focus of your thoughts

determines the framework of your life.

Repetition becomes reflex.

Reflex becomes routine.

Routine becomes action.

Action becomes identity.

Researchers at Harvard University discovered there's a small but powerful part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Think of it as the brain's "pattern seeker." Its preliminary purpose is to apply guidance regarding the decisions we make in the present while drawing from decisions we've made in the past. In other words, the thoughts we act on, especially those we repeatedly carry out, set a precedent for how we'll act in the future.

For example, on average, people check their phones within ten seconds of getting in line anywhere. Why is that? It's because we've hardwired our brains to demand digital distraction. That's why we sometimes reach into our pocket thinking our phones are vibrating. Medical professionals call this phenomenon "phantom vibration syndrome." We're so addicted to our screens and the consequent dopamine hits they give us that when we're not staring at them, our brains get annoyed and trick us into picking them up.

Our minds are a jumbled cacophony of well-worn trails. Habits, practices, decisions, impulses, and subconscious reactions crisscross through us — shaping future habits, practices, and decisions. After years and years of reacting to situations in set ways, our responses become preprogrammed, indexing our soul's identities. 

Thus, when new decisions arise, 

we simply do what we've always done. 

Often without knowing it.

You are repeatedly what you think.

But here's the good news ... 

The You You Can Become

We can change.

We can evolve.

Neurons can rewire.

Your brain has a remarkable ability to remap itself. Our mental ruts can get unstuck, and new trails can be forged. Brains are far more pliable than our emotions would have us believe. Elizabeth R. Thornton, a contributor to Psychology Today, gives us hope:

Because of the power of neuroplasticity,

you can, in fact, reframe your world

and rewire your brain

so that you are more objective.

You have the power to see things

as they are so that you can respond

thoughtfully, deliberately, and effectively

to everything you experience.

You don't have to react slavishly to virulent thoughts. You can revolt. You can rewrite the script, choose more beautiful paths, and create new ways of moving through the world.

Here are three practices to live this out:

 | 1 |  recognize 

unhealthy patterns of thinking

| 2 |  control 

your response

| 3 |  replace

unhealthy thoughts with gratitude

 | 1 |  

Recognize

Unhealthy Patterns of Thinking 

Because our thought life is a battle, Paul borrowed a military phrase to depict how to have a godly mind: We "demolish strongholds" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). A stronghold was a fortified defensive or military structure. Picture a medieval castle looming on a hill. Your mind is like that castle. Every thought you choose to dwell on is like a stone in the castle wall. At first, it may seem insignificant — each stone an impulse, passion, or desire — but if you jump ahead years, you've built a castle.

Really?
How can I control my thoughts?

On any given day, the average person

has sixty thousand of them.

Some are wholesome thoughts.

Others are harmful and corrosive.

How are we expected to

take them captive?

 | 2 |  

Control

Your Response

You can't control what thoughts come at you, but here's what you can control: what you do with them when they enter your mind.

"You cannot keep birds

from flying over your head,

but you can keep them from

building a nest in your hair." 

+ Martin Luther 

It's true that angry, impure, 

toxic, guilt-ridden, jealous,

fearful thoughts will race

through your mind on any given day.

It's called being human, and you can

own that part of your humanity.

But you still have the power

to determine if you're going to give

your mental energy to them.

If you're like me, you know how easy it is for toxic thoughts to take on a life of their own. Fueled by fear, frustration, insecurity, guilt, or resentment, they gaslight your imagination until you affirm their lies.

What is real
and how feel
are two very different things.

That's why instead of letting

destructive thoughts

have unlimited access to

our headspace,

we ought to step back and

discern whether or not the thought

has merit.

Ask yourself:

+ Why do I feel like this?

+ Could I be wrong?

+ Could I be misreading,

exaggerating, or thinking 

the worst about this situation?

+ What assumptions am I making?

+ Is there any evidence that supports

these thoughts?

+ Are these thoughts true, noble, right,

pure, lovely, admirable,

excellent, or praiseworthy?

+ Is there a healthier way

to interpret what is happening?

+ How can I think the best

about this person?

Researchers have discovered that

it only takes between five and 16 minutes

a day of calm, meditative thinking

to furnish our minds with the capacity

to respond to difficult situations.

For you, it might mean 

a time of prayer and self-reflection 

before you head out the door.

Or sitting in your car and 

being still in God's presence 

before you step into the workplace.

Or going for a walk in the evening,

clearing your mind from the anxiety

of the day,

breathing out your fears 

and frustrations, and 

breathing in God's love and grace.

These simple practices train your mind for godliness. They nurture an environment of inner shalom that allows you to respond wisely rather than impulsively and emotionally to the myriad thoughts you have each day. 

A study at Oregon State University 

revealed that those who pray

are able to regulate their emotions

in a healthier way.

When you choose to catch your thoughts,

rather than letting them catch

and control you,

you're not only preventing conflict,

destructive spirals, or

choices you'd later regret;

you're also freeing up mental bandwidth

that you can channel toward

your flourishing.

Stillness tranquilizes the worried, anxious thoughts that ricochet unrelentingly within. It is the sacred hush of the prayerful soul.

 | 3 |  

Replace

Unhealthy Thoughts with Gratitude

When you begin to honestly reflect on your thoughts, you may be surprised by how many are disconnected from now. Researchers have found that

of the 60,000 thoughts we have per day,
40% are focused on the future, 

30% are focused on the past,

12% are feelings of self-doubt, and

10% are worries about our health.

Only 8% of our thoughts

focus on the present.

It terrifies me to think about

how much life I've missed out on

because of a failure to be 

here.

What I'm learning (from a place of vulnerable admission of how far I know I have to go) is that a potent way to have a godly and disciplined mind — one that's less distracted or swayed by worry and more centered and calm — is to practice gratitude.

What is gratitude?

It's a posture of the soul,

a habit of thinking,

that recognizes and honors God

as the source of all truth,

beauty, and life.

Gratitude is the awareness

of the miraculous gift of 

being. 

Have you forgotten your

wow?

Are there things, places, opportunities, or people that, in your stress and distraction, you've looked past? Have you failed to see the beauty right in front of you? In the hope of big happiness, are you missing the small jobs? God invites you to slow down and fix your thoughts on Him.

Gratitude is the art

of taming your frenetic, 

edacious mind to appreciate

the wonder of life

as it is right now.

Happiness can only be achieved

by looking inward and learning

to enjoy whatever life has and

this requires transforming

greed into gratitude.

+ St. John Chrysostom

According to the University of Arkansas, thinking grateful thoughts releases the pleasure centers of your brain that make you feel happier. And the best thing? Those feelings of happiness generate a positive feedback loop: you'll be more grateful for them, which only makes you happier.

Gratitude also has a direct impact on your physical well-being. Studies have proven that grateful people have fewer medical appointments and stronger relationships.

Gratitude bolsters the immune system,
decreases blood pressure,
heightens energy levels,
strengthens the heart,
improves emotional intelligence,
increases motivation for self-care
and physical fitness,
and decreases stress,
depression, and headaches.

Being grateful makes you more hopeful,
and it helps you envision a future you

that's holistically thriving.

Gratitude is war.

Gratitude turns disorder into order

and chaos and clarity.

Gratitude unlocks your perspective

and releases you into 

the fullness of life.

When unhealthy thoughts swarm your mind — envy, anxiety, fear, lust, hopelessness, negativity, comparison, insecurity — choose in that moment to capture those destructive ideas with thanksgiving. You may want to speak gratitude out loud or write it in a journal.

What gifts has God given you?
How has He provided
for you in the past?

God is found in rearview mirrors;
 how has He been faithful 

in your journey?  

Take a deep breath and look around:

What is enchanting 

about this moment?

Look closer.

You might be surprised.

When you're walking with Jesus,

a wow is never far away.

Gratitude transfigures

the world you see.

In the Gospels, just hours before Jesus was tortured and killed, He sat at a table with His disciples. To His left was Judas, who betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver. To His right was Peter, who denied Him at a smoldering fire. Jesus took some bread and broke it. He took a goblet of wine and gave thanks. The Greek word for "gave thanks" is eucharisteo. For Christians, it's the central symbol of our faith: eucharist, or communion. It also contains the word charis, which means grace.

In an atmosphere tense

with the agony of forsaken love,

when the disciples' thoughts

were manipulated by

darkness itself,

Jesus literally gave thanks;

He offered Himself.

Gratitude is seeding grace

into the brokenness.

Gratitude 

adds to your faith

the most beautiful thing of all:

awareness of the God

who is already here.

Come Alive

Jesus and the early disciples revealed that godliness is first formed within, beginning with your thought life. Does how you think line up with the person you want to become? Are there patterns of thinking or strongholds you need to dismantle? What are they?

When we choose gratitude,
we aren't denying our frustration and pain;
we're planting seeds of hope
in the midst of those fractured places.

Gratitude leverages life's brokenness to allow the light into our minds and thoughts. A good place to return to is Philippians 4:8.

What in your life is true?
Noble?

Right?

Pure?

Lovely?

Admirable?

Excellent or praiseworthy?

Take a few minutes and write down some things you're thankful for. 

+ Dominic Done,

"Castles of the Mind"

excerpts from pgs. 132-149

Your Longing Has a Name:

Come Alive to the Story

You Were Made For

 

Next post: 

+ Jesus Finishes the Story

Bonus posts: 

+ Can I Say That? 

+ God Meets Us in Messy Reality

+ Look at the Birds

+ The Anxiety Opportunity

+ Revelatory Dark

+ Delayed Destinies

+ Wrestling with God 

+ Being with God in Stillness

+ Becoming Less Distracted

Christ is all,

+ Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan

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