One of the things we were discussing in Masterful Living last night was how to deal with the obsessive compulsive negative thinking. I have really had a journey with this experience.

I used to get into these loops of thinking where I was defending and attacking, explaining and convincing, and then back to attacking and defending. Running those negative thought patterns in an obsessive compulsive way always made me feel just awful about myself. It felt so completely out of my control, and I hated it.

Now, I am so grateful to know that those patterns were my opportunities to demonstrate my willingness to be loving and experience the Freedom being loving brings.

I’ve learned that if my thoughts are defensive and protective, then I’m actually looking for an excuse to attack. The ego thought system is one of opposites and it’s quite tricky. Fortunately, the thought system of Spirit is truth and truth liberates us from the ego’s traps.

When we choose loving kindness with no ulterior motive we are being truly helpful and then we’re divinely protected.

“The truly helpful are invulnerable, because they are not protecting their egos and so nothing can hurt them. Their helpfulness is their praise of God, and He will return their praise of Him because they are like Him, and they can rejoice together. God goes out to them and through them, and there is great joy throughout the Kingdom. Every mind that is changed adds to this joy with its individual willingness to share in it. The truly helpful are God’s miracle workers, whom I direct until we are all united in the joy of the Kingdom. I will direct you to wherever you can be truly helpful, and to whoever can follow my guidance through you.” A Course in Miracles, T-4.VII.8.

We can interrupt the patterns of negative thinking with a simple affirmation such as “Love holds no grievances,” from lesson 68 in the ACIM Workbook. I’ve learned that having that simple affirmation, or one like it, becomes the pattern interrupter that helps me retrain my mind to stay focused on my God thoughts and choices.

Healing is happening for all of us and we can accelerate it using tools like this!

Simple, but not always easy! Still, it actually works. And it brings benefit for all.

What do you use to interrupt the patterns of obsessive compulsive negative thinking? Please tell us about it and share in the comments below! Thank you!