“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” — Philippians 4:8 NIV

It can be argued that the only thing about our lives that we have control over is our thoughts. Our physical traits are inherited from our parents so we have no say over our hair color, body type, or health issues. Our behavior is learned in the home we grew up in and the school we attended. It’s true that in our childhood we were shaped to think like those who influenced us, but now as adults our thoughts are our own.

We choose our thoughts and this verse is telling us to choose wisely. If we think upon that which is good, true, and positive we will find that overflowing in our life. If we think upon things that are dark, fearful, and negative we will find ourselves becoming cynical, withdrawn, or even depressed.

We become what we choose to think about and that can become a habit. So if you want less negativity in your conversations or freedom from an attitude of criticism, begin by thinking about that which is good, positive, and praiseworthy.