LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OVERCOMING THE FIVE PRIMARY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS: A TWENTY- ONE DAY MIND RENEWAL PLAN FOR MEN A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Paul R. Chipman Lynchburg, Virginia December 2014 Copyright © 2014 by Paul R. Chipman All Rights Reserved LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ______________________________ GRADE _____________________________ Dr. Charles N. Davidson Director, Doctor of Ministry Program Associate Professor of Chaplaincy ____________________________ Dr. David W. Hirschman Acting Dean Assistant Professor of Religion ABSTRACT OVERCOMING THE FIVE PRIMARY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS: A TWENTY-ONE DAY PLAN FOR MEN Paul R. Chipman Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 Mentor: Dr. Charles N. Davidson The Bible commands Christians to be transformed by renewing their minds with the Word of God. This project proposes a biblical mind transformation plan targeting men specifically, as well as the broader body of Christ. The plan equips Christians with the skills to learn how to identify, control, and eliminate the five primary negative thoughts. Once identified, these unhealthy thoughts will be replaced with a plethora of healthy self empowering thoughts resulting in a renewed Christ centered mindset. The research for this plan will be based on the Holy Scriptures, neuroscience (brain research), and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Pre and post-assessment surveys will be given to all participants to measure the effectiveness of this project in changing their thought lives. Men who wish to be delivered and set free mentally from harassing thoughts such as, regrets of the past, fear of the future, unhealthy comparisons, self- condemning thoughts, and temptations of lustful thoughts of all kinds, this research project is their deliverance. The goal is to renew the mind one thought at a time. Abstract length: 173 words. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to acknowledge and thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for saving me and secondly, revealing to me the truths revealed in this twenty-one day mind renewal plan. He revealed these thought regulation truths and paradigms to me while guiding me through a storm. Jesus, I thank you for being such a perfect storm tracker. You never once abandoned me, or allowed me to be tested beyond my ability to bear the trial. Instead, you faithfully tracked me through the storm and brought me safely to the other side. Secondly, I would like to acknowledge Vonda, my beloved wife of 30 years, ministry partner, and partner in parenthood as we raised our three wonderful adult sons. Vonda has encouraged, and supported me, prayed, fasted, and cried for me and with me. She believed in me, when I did not believe in myself, and most importantly, she loves me unconditionally. Vonda, you consistently demonstrate the love of Jesus to me. I thank you for your sacrificial support expressed in your proof reading of this thesis project and your willingness to allow me time alone (when you would have rather been spending time with me) to complete this writing project. Thank you. I love you. Third, I would like to thank all of the following people: Dr. Charles Davidson for his guidance, grace, and favor he demonstrated to me throughout the writing of this thesis project. Victor Canas, thank you, for designing the website, and worked tirelessly to update the site daily. Thank you Pastor Kevin, and the members of Thrive Church and all the other volunteers who participated in the twenty-one day plan. Without your steadfast commitment to daily log on to the site, read the blog, and do the daily assignments this project would have been hindered. God bless you. Finally, I thank my friend Cooper Pasque for his encouraging words, technical expertise, and willingness to help whenever I reached a hitch in formatting this project. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………….. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS…………………………………………………………………. v CONTENTS……………………………………………………………………………….. vi LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………….. viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………. 1 Statement of the Problem………………………….………………………………. 3 Statement of Limitations……..……………………………….............................. 5 Theoretical Basis for this Project…………………………………………..……... 6 Statement of Methodology………………………….…………………………….. 10 Review of Literature………………………………………………………………. 11 CHAPTER 2. THOUGHT CHEMISTRY 101…………...…………................................. 24 Understanding Thinking………………………………………………………… 24 What are Thoughts? ........................................................................................... 24 Are Thoughts Real? .......................................................................................... 25 Are Thoughts Harmless? .................................................................................. 27 How Many Thoughts Per Day? ........................................................................ 28 The Five Primary Negative Thoughts: The Filthy Five …………………..…... 29 The Seven Sources of Our Thoughts…………………………………………….... 33 Science …………………………………………………………………….….. 33 Sensory Mechanisms (5 Senses) ………….……….......................................... 34 Self-Talk ………………..…………………………………………………….. 35 Specific Events ………………………………………………………………... 36 Spiritual Factors ………………………………..……………………………… 37 Secularism (World-view)………………………………………………………. 41 Social Interactions…………………………………………………………….... 42 CHAPTER 3. THOUGHT MANAGEMENT 201: THE 21 DAY PLAN ……….……… 43 Week 1: Thought Chemistry 101 …………………………………………………. 43 Week 2: Thought Management 201……………………………………………….. 75 Week 3: Thought Builders 301 ……………………………………………………. 114 CHAPTER 4. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION……………………………………….. 158 Purpose of Thesis………………………………………………………………….. 158 Outline of the Project ……………………………………………………………… 158 Major Findings…………………………………………………………………….. 159 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………… 162 vi BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................... 170 APPENDIX A GLOSSARY…............................................................................................. 175 APPENDIX B THESIS SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION ................................................ 182 IRB APPROVAL ................................................................................................................ 203 vii LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 1: Anterior Cingulate .................................................................................................... 62, 67 Fig. 2: The Habit Loop ....................................................................................................... 76 viii Chapter 1 Introduction This thesis project will explore the science of thought formation and the power of thoughts to produce and eliminate toxic emotions such as fear, anxiety, stress, worry, anger and depression. Concerning depression, according to Harold G. Koenig of Duke University Medical Center states, Depression is a major public health problem. Based on a joint study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and the World Health Organization, depression was the leading cause of disability in 1990 and, in 2020, is expected to be the world’s second leading cause of disability, surpassed only by cardiovascular disease. The lifetime prevalence of depression in the USA is 20% in women and 10% in men.1 Bolstering this statistic, psychologist, Frank Lawlis, maintains, “It is estimated that more than 90% of us will have a bout with depression at some point in our lives and for some of us this experience may be unbearably debilitating. Almost all of us will have serious anxiety bouts that will restrict us from enjoying life’s opportunities.”2 In an effort to decrease the aforementioned estimation of the rise of depression and anxiety, this research project is designed to help Christians discover ways to identify and eradicate negative toxic thoughts which can lead to serious bouts of depression and anxiety. In this researchers opinion, which is based on over twenty years of pastoral counseling experience, many Christians are oblivious to the connection between their thoughts and the emotions they experience on a daily basis. Unfortunately, numerous believers are not aware of the power that they possess to control and regulate their thoughts and feelings. 1 Harold G. Koening, “Religious versus Conventional Psychotherapy for Major Depression in Patients with Chronic Medical Illness: Rationale, Methods, and Preliminary Results.” Depression Research and Treatment (2012): 1. 2 Frank Lawlis, Retraining the Brain: A 45-Day Plan to Conquer Stress and Anxiety (New York: Plume. 2008), 6. 1 2 Norman Wright explains the correlation between the thoughts of believers and their feelings “A thought stimulates an electrochemical response, which produces emotion; emotion results in an attitude; and attitude produces behavior. Negative or toxic thoughts produce toxic emotions. Those produce toxic attitudes, which result in toxic behavior.” 3 Thus, it is apparent that human emotions are not the naturalistic product of random chance, but are the byproduct of human thought life. Hence, when Christians learn to manage their thoughts, they are also inadvertently managing their feelings and emotions. According to Pastor Charles Swindoll, human thoughts have the power to create either 4 positive or negative emotions, attitudes, or behaviors.