A Mind Made Beautiful

In Dr. Luke’s account of the gospel, he begins his book with this preface: “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us… it seemed good to me also… to write…” (Luke 1:1-3, emphasis mine). Though others were writing gospel narratives, Luke felt compelled to write his own account of something that had profoundly impacted him. The information presented in this book is not new or in any way exhaustive. Still, the topics covered here are becoming increasingly relevant for health and healing. So, “it seemed good to me also” to write in my voice and from my perspective about these things that have deeply impacted my life. This information is not going to truly impact your life in one sitting. You are going to make that happen one decision and one thought at a time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Challenging the way you think is hard work, and it can be overwhelming and sometimes deeply disturbing. But it’s the most rewarding adventure you will ever embark on. The journey of challenging and owning your own mind–or as I refer to it, making your mind beautiful–changes everything about the way you see and experience life. The book is intentionally set up in a journal format. As you read my thoughts, personalize the concepts into your own. Half of the book is reserved for you. Fill in the blank pages with your own story, findings, and resources. No two minds are the same, and no two journeys are the same. We can learn from each other, but we cannot take on someone else’s experience as our own. That’s the joy and privilege of life. We get to have our own. Read the pages slowly. I encourage you not to approach them with a “how to” or a “here are the steps” mentality. Instead, challenge yourself to take the concepts and fill in the gaps with the things that make up the story you are writing. I did not do justice to all the topics covered in this book. We can only truly apply so much at one time. I tried to be as concise as possible, leaving it to you to add the things that resonate and are relevant for you. We may quickly forget information we receive from others, but we truly own the information that we gather and test for ourselves. So, take what resonates with you and breeze over what doesn’t. As Albert Einstein said, “Maturity is the ability to hear a thought and the authority to decide either to accept or reject it.” The concepts are simple and repeated several times. Sometimes our brain needs both simplicity and repetition. Your body and mind are so incredibly designed, and when you learn to work with them instead of fighting them, you open yourself up to a new world of possibilities. So here’s to magnificent, beautiful minds–yours and mine. -Jenna The Principle of Exchange We know that thoughts and their associated emotions create energy and movement in our body, but they also take up actual space as well. Therefore, it is very important to fill that space with something different. When you notice a blocker and remove it, that is an enormous victory! The next step is important, because now it’s time to retrain your brain to view that space differently. Sometimes it’s hard to know what to put there, but that’s where the principle of exchange comes in. “… to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes. The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” (Isaiah 61:3) It can be as simple as this: God, I give you this jealousy. I don’t want it anymore. As I release and let go of what I no longer want in my body, what would you put in its place? Then, stop, and just listen. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind? Does it completely resonate and maybe even surprise you? That’s your exchange. Now, every time your mind wants to return to jealousy, immediately choose to go to your exchange. Maybe your word will be peace, or happiness, or confidence. It will be specific to you. You could write it down where you can see it. Maybe find a verse, quote, or song to reinforce and remind your brain until it’s an automatic path. Remember to speak (out loud if possible) to yourself while learning your new pathway, just like you would speak to a child being trained. I do not have to be overwhelmed. I’m feeling overwhelmed, but I don’t need to anymore. I am creative. I can and will find a solution to this problem. As I relax my body, I will be able to better listen for the answer. I am creating the life I want to live. New program: I do not have to function from a state of overwhelm. Using this as an example, flesh it out to be relevant to you. Replace the bold words with your exchange. It may seem silly, but the practice is effective. You have to give your mind a new file to work with, or it will default back to the old one.