Mission Callings
Skill Practice 10: Develop Healthy Thinking Patterns

Skill Practice 10

Develop Healthy Thinking Patterns

girl smiling

Our thoughts can have a powerful effect on us, either for good or for bad. Developing healthy thinking patterns can improve our outlook on life and our ability to do the Lord’s work.

Discussion leader: Strive to be brief in the “Define” and “Demonstrate” sections so learners have plenty of time for practice.

Define

Discussion leader: Introduce the topic for this skill practice by sharing the following. You might also consider studying Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 together. Invite learners to share how following the Lord’s counsel in this verse could affect their lives.

Our thoughts influence how we feel and act (see Proverbs 23:7). Negative thoughts can lead to discouragement, self-doubt, fear, anger, and feelings of hopelessness. Positive thoughts can lead to optimism, confidence, and hope.

One way we can develop healthy thinking patterns is to record our negative thoughts and rewrite them so they:

  • Are more hopeful.

  • Are more truthful.

  • Demonstrate faith in Jesus Christ.

Discussion leader: Consider writing these three guidelines on the board.

Demonstrate

Discussion leader: Demonstrate this skill by displaying and discussing some of the following examples adapted from “Talking Back to Negative Thinking” in Adjusting to Missionary Life ([2013], 21). You could invite different class members to read each example aloud to the class.

My negative thoughts

My rewrite to build healthy thinking

I hate having to get up so early.

I don’t have to like it. I think I can do this. When I get up and start moving, I’ll probably feel better. I can pray for God’s help.

I’ll never make it through this day.

I’ve made it through every day so far, and I’ll make it through today. All I have to do right now is what is in front of me, one step at a time. As I look to the Savior, He will help me get through this day.

This lesson was a disaster.

Some lessons go better than others. It is good that I want to improve. I know God will accept my best efforts. Maybe my companion can help me improve.

Discussion leader: Invite learners to share how they saw the three guidelines demonstrated in these examples. You could also discuss questions like the following:

  • What stood out to you from these examples?

  • How could thinking this way affect your life?

Practice

Discussion leader: Give learners an opportunity to practice this skill with a partner. Consider displaying the following instructions:

Rewrite the following negative thoughts into statements that are more hopeful and truthful, and that demonstrate faith in Jesus Christ:

  • “Everyone is better at this than me. I just don’t belong here.”

  • “I can’t talk to a stranger. It’s too scary!”

  • “I’m always so disorganized.”

Discussion leader: Invite a few willing class members to share how they rewrote one of the negative thoughts. For more practice, consider inviting learners to write down a few negative thoughts they previously had. Give them time to practice rewriting these thoughts to be more hopeful, truthful, and faith-filled.

Apply

Discussion leader: Share the following to help learners apply this skill:

For the next seven days, take time to write some of the negative thoughts you have. Then rewrite them to be more hopeful and truthful and to demonstrate your faith in Jesus Christ. Pay attention to how this practice affects you.