What is the beginning of every one of our opinions, feelings, actions, behaviors, decisions, and way of being? Our thoughts.
This matter is not simply psychological, it is our spiritual life that fuels our psychological and physical well-being. All spiritual life is based on thoughts.(1) Truly, the entirety of our life depends upon our spiritual life, therefore upon our thoughts.
This is not about simply good thoughts vs bad thoughts, since positive thoughts by themselves can be prideful and self-centered: a dead-end. The key is to actively turn our thoughts toward a person - Christ.
We must be vigilant to recognize when a thought in our mind is not our own, but rather a temptation. When attacked our mind is fogged with pessimistic or prideful thoughts in order to waste our time and distract us from prayer and our daily tasks.(2)
We must choose to concentrate and direct our thoughts back to Christ. If our mind wanders, call it back again and again. Do not allow your mind to wander.(3)
When we turn our thoughts to God throughout our day in prayer, it is not a psychological exercise, it is deeper, engaging in a loving relationship and coming to know our Creator.
When our spiritual well-being is grounded in love of Christ, then our psychological and physical well-being follows, and our efforts in the psychological and physical aspects of life flow more successfully.
2) St Paisios, Spiritual Struggle, V.3 pg 64
3) St Paisios, Spiritual Struggle, V.3 pg 63
