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Learning, practicing, and combining these therapeutic tools with your spiritual arsenal will not only benefit you emotionally but will demonstrate to you why people who walk in the law of Jehovah are a happy people. As with reading scripture, this should be a daily routine until it becomes habit. Using these tools, you WILL feel a shift in your thinking, mood, and viewpoint. 

To create a habit or skills, regular practice is essential. This can be especially difficult for busy people who are balancing their spiritual routine with secular work or raising a family or caregiving. One way to more successfully create a habit is to link the behavior you are trying to build to a behavior you already do regularly. So, for example, when you read the Daily Text, think of how the scripture can help you challenge a common thought distortion. The scripture itself can be a rational counter-statement to a thinking error, or sometimes the principle is most easily applied to thinking errors.

Another proven way to be more successful in building new habits or skills is to share your goals with family or friends. This gives you accountability to keep working on your goal. A spiritual Brother or Sister may ask about your progress or remind you of something you shared with them. Furthermore, a Brother or Sister may see small changes that you may not see as readily. This encouragement keeps you going. Think of the days out in service or at Meeting, and how the Friends have lifted you up in the past. Do not deny them this opportunity to show you Jehovah’s love and care. 

A third practice is applying the skill of identifying thought distortions to Bible characters about whom we read. Think of those who, despite having Jehovah’s backing, expressed doubt (Moses, Jeremiah), who felt discouraged (Jeremiah) worthless (Elijah), or hopeless (David), those who questioned why they were born (Job), and those who wanted to die (Moses, Jonah, Elijah). Many can relate to these feelings, unfortunately. The congregation is your Family. Seek out your service group, your Elders, or any member of the congregation when you need support.  A note, though, to remind you Friend, that professional mental health care is available for severe problems that are not improving. There is no shame in humbly recognizing your limitations and asking for help.