For many years I lived my life listening to my mind telling me that what it “seems like” was true. This stream of thought would then pump fear and suspicion into my heart over and over about the situations and people around me. It took a long time to learn to hear these phrases, when they show up in my life, and let them become an alert system for me. They have become a red flag to wake me up to what is really going on inside of me.

Listen, we often choose the way that “seems right” because it feels right but what it “seems like” or what it “feels like” is not what is real or true! I have come to see these words as messages from deep within, like a call to pay attention to my emotions. I’ve learned that after I reflect on them that the “seems likes” have came out of my mouth are my feelings and they have been lying to me. When I’ve lived the “seems like” life I know I’ve been living less than God’s best for me. I end up stressed out, full of anxiety, suspicious, and critical.

I can remember the days when I was stuck in these kinds of thought loops. I hadn’t learned how to catch myself yet. It was as if no amount of rational thought would persuade me that I could be wrong. I was in the grip of sinister Mr. “seems like.” I believed that I was right. No one could change my mind. I would moving forward with an offense in my heart. In bad form, I sadly would go to someone who is not a part of the situation and tell them what it “seems like/feels like.” I would give them my proof and my intensity of emotion to show them how this has affected me. I’d often try to gain support for my cause.

Here’s the thing, the “seems like” life will always try to gather support for itself even if it means pitting people against each other. Assumptions plus pride will always cause division.

“Seems like” thoughts are those that try to take preeminence over the truth. Assumptions are sneaky little thought markers that can get us so far off course, one day we wake up wondering what happened to our lives. We take them as truth without checking them out. They lead us down a way that seems right but it always ends in death. The enemy of our souls is the accuser of the brethren. If you know Jesus as your Savior then the enemy can’t accuse you to the Father’s face because of the sacrifice Christ made for you. But He will try to use your emotions to accuse you, you’re friends and family. He majors in causing division, planting stress and maximizing pain. You are being used. I have wasted so many hours of my life just trying to prove that I was right and living out the “seems like” life.

So, what do we do about it!

3 Thing To Help Overcome The Seems Like Life: 

1. Become Aware: Train yourself to notice when you say or think “it seems like/feels like” and get curious about why you just said that. Invite a trusted friend to question your assumptions when they hear you say things like: “It seems like they don’t like me.” “It feels like they are upset with me.” Its was “like” they did it on purpose!”
2. Take Personal Responsibility: Realize that what is happening in you, is in you, about you, and not other people. Learn to question your own assumptions. Find out what you actually know and what you assume you know. Then go find answers.
3. Be Vulnerable: Go to the people/person and ask them some clarifying questions about the situation to help clean up your thought life. When you ask questions you look for the truth. Stop spinning on assumptions. This act of vulnerability has a way of producing the connection, respect, and compassion between people that your soul actually needs to grow and thrive.

If you do this you will gain self-control over your emotions and thoughts. You will learn to stand in truth, feel your confidence grow, cut anxiety and stress. You will being growing a healthy soul. You will gain respect and a true connection with your peers. You will learn self-discipline.

There is a way that seems right to a man but in the end is the way of death.

Proverbs 10:25

 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla