When it comes to the subject of the mind, there are many theories as to what the mind is or is not. There is a Western approach to the mind and an Eastern approach to the mind. In the Western tradition, faculties’ complex involves perceiving, remembering, considering, evaluating, and deciding. In some sense, the mind is reflected in such occurrences as sensations, perceptions, emotions, memory, desires, various types of reasoning, motives, choices, traits of personality, and the unconscious.¹
Our minds are a mystery to both science and faith, and the theories and arguments for what the mind is or is not is irrelevant when it comes to our actual human experience. For example, I cannot tell you with any confidence if the mind and the conscience are separate or the same. But what I can tell you is my mind can be my worst enemy at times. There have been countless times where some negative connotation, or twisted perception, got loose in my mind throughout the years, and it was almost impossible to shut off. These problem children are often referred to as mind bullies.
Mind bullies are relentless at times. There have been many times through-out my life when there seems to be more than one mind bully doing the dirty work, possibly a group of bullies, all tag-teaming me and driving me bonkers. Science, religion, and the streets have all kinds of names to describe these mind bullies, e.g., the voices in my head, the committee, the enemy, the Lower Power, the Dark Side, my evil twin, the problem child, the devil, the Boys, the Girls, the disease, the illness, aliens, spiritual malady, the beast(s), demons, or Satan himself, etc. How many of them are there? If I went to see a counselor, they would have to give me a group rate.
What gives birth to these mind bullies? Where do mind bullies come from, you wonder? I am no doctor; I don’t even play one on tv, but I can tell you what I know from my personal experience. Once upon a time, what you thought of me paralyzed me, and you didn’t even know. The mind bully of self-centered fear was so intense that I would become a chameleon to be accepted into whatever circles necessary for survival, good, bad, or ugly. I even went as far as to change my name out of fear of what others may think.
Delusional thinking, or if you wish, twisted perception, create a lot of the illusion and delusion that give birth to these mind bullies. Mind bullies stem from the womb of fear, but when you take the fear and add some deception or illusion to the mix, it creates mind bullies so powerful that extreme measures can potentially come into play to appease the noise, e.g., self-harm or causing harm to others. When you struggle to see things as they truly are and cannot differentiate the truth from the false, you may find yourself caught in a web of fear, anger, resentment, delusion, loneliness, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and despair.
In the circles of medicine, science, religion, and recovery, the consensus is that our problem centers in the mind. Case and point, when a mind bully called resentment gets into our heads, it can lead to a tragic ending. Our mind gives birth to fear, fear turns to anger, and anger overtime turns to resentment (frozen anger.) When we resent someone or something, they are with us almost 24/7. They take showers with us, go to work or school with us, and sleep with us. If not addressed, the resentment can turn to hate and hate to bitterness, leading to disaster. It can cause relapse for people struggling with addictions and often lead to self-harm or harming others. The resentments are so hard to get rid of because they are our creation. We water, fertilize, nurture, and even at times pour miracle grow on them.
How do you get rid of the mind bullies?
What are the steps necessary to have these mind bullies evicted once and for all?
The answer is to surrender the mind over to a power greater than yourself. This process of surrender must involve help from others, and if you are a person of faith, from God. You must uncover, discover, and discard the mind bullies one at a time as they show up and take residence between your ears. Some of them have lived rent-free between your ears for ages. You have to confess to another human being the truth about these mind bullies and the fears attached at the root of each one of them. You have to name it before you can claim it.
The bible says that your mind must be renewed.² How is that even possible? Scripture reveals the words of Jesus, 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”³ It is not enough to want these mind bullies exterminated; you must come to believe that it’s possible. You will need help. In recovery circles, they use the 12 Steps to address this disorder. In the world of medicine, professionals are trained to help you uncover, discover, and discard these mind bullies. There are victories to be had in surrender, so surrender your mind over a power greater than you.
There is no doubt that mental illness is real and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Mental illness can be so extreme that professional help is a must, and without it, the mind bullies only grow in strength and have the potential to lead to self-harm or an intense outburst. Wherever you find yourself with your mind bullies, please know that you can have victory over them. The first step is asking for help; the next step is bringing them out of their hiding places because nothing good grows in the dark. You have to lay aside your pride and fear and start living in the solution. You can do this! We can do this! God could and would if God were sought! So seek, and you shall find!
My Creator, I am asking boldly for the renewal of my mind. I am tired of being bullied between my ears. Please give me the courage to ask for help and the willingness to be honest and thorough in my conversations with others. Please show me the way, and grant me the courage to do my part. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will and not mine be done always. Amen.
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