Tell Somebody

How to Avoid Maladaptive Behaviors – Tell Someone!

Change is a desire for many of us, but the road to transformation is faced with both courage and willingness.

Transforming from self-harm behaviors means letting go of false beliefs long deemed to be true. If you have ever believed you were justified in smoking cigarettes, gambling, recklessly spending money, or any other maladaptive behavior, then change can be just a dream.

However, if you know that you know that you know…Your current way of dealing with stress, trauma, and hard times is not healthy, then you desire change. You are seeking a way to live healthier. And that’s a good thing.

But how do you get there, you may wonder. Effort on our part is essential because rarely does a magic wand wave and our bad behavior disappear.

If you are like me, reflecting, analyzing, and researching the problem is helpful, but the knowledge doesn’t always produce changed behavior. Prayer is powerful and helpful, but at some point, we must put forth an effort.

And once we do, change is within our reach. Now the question becomes, “how do we maintain it?”

Praying for willingness and courage is one way. Telling someone is a powerful action too. Keeping struggles, a secret only keeps us sick.

If we confess our sins (tell someone about our desire to miss the mark), God is faithful and just…here is the whole text:

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8–9).

If we desire to sin, confess it, God is willing and able to free us from the temptation and cleanse us from the unrighteous thoughts and behaviors.

Yes, we can live free, if we confess – tell someone – what we are thinking. Expose the temptation, reveal the thought, tell someone “I am feeling weak.” And the person we choose will likely empathize, encourage us, and equip us to remain strong in our desire to resist and overcome temptation.

I know!

The body and mind remember the “good feeling” that comes from acting out. But if we think about it, pause and reflect on the consequences: the guilt we end up feeling, the shame we endure — we may make another decision.

SO TELL SOMEONE!

• God
• A mentor
• A friend
• A professional

Find some non-judgmental people who can hold us accountable while encouraging us and equipping us to continue moving toward transformation.

Do it. You will thank yourself one day for achieving this goal.