Make sense?
True based on your experience?
If this is all true and applies to making better decisions,
then the next logical conclusion is that we are most likely to get off the curve
of poor decisions BEFORE
the lines cross.
For David’s story, that moment is in verse 4 of 1 Samuel.
Notice though, I said “most likely”. At every point on this
curve we are but one
right decision away from diffusing a series of wrong decisions. It’s just that we’re
at a chemical & brain wiring pattern disadvantage to do so once we
pass where the lines cross.
Are you with me?
Last for today, take some time drawing out (and noticing
moving forward from today) your behavior curves in your journal.
Look for patterns.
What you’ll likely notice are certain tendencies from times
of day & life circumstances to triggers & methods for escalation.
Once you see these patterns, the next step is to find ways
to sidestep those triggers. Avoiding triggers at this point in your journey
will help develop a new pattern to your behavior which will help with that
neuroplasticity we talked about a few days ago, establishing a new
neuropathway for how you handle your triggers.
This is especially helpful as triggers lower on the curve
are easier to resist both because they’re not prompting as strong of a chemical
response in our brains, and our capacity for right-minded thinking is stronger
at those points.
More on this for the next couple days but for now think of
things in these terms.
Right-minded thinking & escalating behaviors have an inverse relationship.
Thoughts to Pray/Journal:
- What are your ‘verse 4’ moments on your own behavior curve?
Specifically.
- Make a list of 4-6 ways to disarm the curve’s escalation
before the lines cross.
- How does this perspective/information change the way you can
make decisions?
Reading:
2 Samuel 11 (again)