Emotionally healthy adults successfully run two emotional programs. The First program is what you set up in childhood. The Second program happens when you embrace more mature insights and skills.

Your First program was designed by a child’s mind using survival thinking.

• You had a poor view of yourself.
• You didn’t feel lovable. So you tried to earn love and approval.
• You carried confusing restlessness and discontentment.
• You tried to ignore old fear and sadness.
• Finally, failure and rejection were very painful. So, you lived in ways to never feel those two feelings.

Your Second program was developed with an adult, spiritual mindset.

• You acknowledge and accept your weaknesses.
• You learn to be kind to yourself.
• You move from seeing yourself as a defective, inferior guy to being just a “regular” guy.
• You own your fears. So they have much less power.
• You walk closely with Jesus and operate out of more peace, rest, and joy.

Close

Some people don’t know they need a Second program to live well. They live their whole life stuck in the First program. And their life and relationships never work very well. But Jesus still loves them.

Prayer

Father, please keep growing me. Give me wisdom and insight as you transform me and my emotions into the likeness of Jesus. Amen.

Bible

When I was a child, I thought like a child

1 Cor.13:11 NIV

(Read more thoughts at DoctorMarriage.org)