Sculpting Project 22: Leaping Over Walls: Week 4

We have learned our ABCD’s: Adversity, Belief, Consequences, Disputing

Now for Disputing tools we will learn our vowels.

A- Alternatives
E- Evidence
I- Implications
O- Open-up to change
U- Usefulness

The Adversity: While shopping I am unable to quickly solve a math calculation to help me choose the best buy. The Wall:This adversity becomes a wall when I give the event a pessimistic explanation.

Personal: “It is all my fault that I’m bad at math,”
Pervasive: “ I’m not just bad at this math problem I’m bad at all math”
Permanent: “I’m math challenged and I always will be”.

Using Our Vowels to Dispute

A – Alternatives

List the alternatives to the pessimistic explanation.. “Why can’t I quickly solve this math problem? Maybe I was not taught the needed formula in school. If I did learn it, that was a long time ago, how can I expect myself to remember such a detail. Maybe this is a difficult problem.”

E – Evidence

Become a detective and get the facts. “ I was in a rush at the store and had no paper to write figures with, that always limits my math ability. There are other problems I can solve or could if I had the right formula. I may not be a natural at math but frankly I have not put any effort in learning how to solve this kind of problem, so of course I found it difficult.

I – Implications

Take the catastrophe out of the explanation. “Because I cannot solve this one math problem am I now ‘Math challenged’ and disabled for life? The implications of not quickly solving this one math problem will not ruin my life.”

O – Open-up to change

Plan ways you can change. “ I could find a math textbook and figure out how to solve this problem. I could even write down the formula and keep it in my purse for the next time.”

U – Usefulness

Step back and ask yourself, “Is this conversation I am having with myself useful right now?” I use this ‘U’ tool frequently. Often my self-talk is not helping the situation I am in.

Project 22: Leaping Over Walls

By my God, I can leap over a wall. (Psalm 18:29b)

Each day argue with a pessimistic thought.

Make a special effort to argue with thoughts about your walls.

This arguing can be fun. With it you can step right over a wall. Enjoy .

“take every thoughts captive for Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5b)