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Kimberly Ko's avatar

One of my favorite books is called telling yourself the truth by Dr. Backus. I feel like that is really hard to tell ourselves the truth sometimes because we are so plugged into media and media is not truthful. It should be but it’s not. I’ve been struggling lately with panic attacks again and I have found that deleting everything off my phone that is Instagram TikTok Facebook. Those kinds of things is a giant step to help re-regulate myself. I haven’t had these many panic attack attacks since since my husband died… So I’m working on it thank you Lord for giving me strength. Anyhow, I just wanted to say thank you for this article and as a mental health advocate and a person who really loves brain science, this is great.

hopefullykimberly.substack.com

Hellooo! I just subscribed. I'm Kimberly and I try to be a merchant of hope. I write about resiliency, healing, and hope. My work invites readers to hold sorrow and joy together and find purpose in the messy middle of life. Maybe you will consider subscribing to me as well. ~KK

Jan Johnson's avatar

Kimberly, thank you for the book suggestion and being vulnerable here. Panic attacks are not fun. You're right to eliminate the bombardment of socials that bring you to that place. But God, right? Fill your mind with him and his promises to bring yourself back to clarity and peace.

Brenda Seefeldt's avatar

I'm in the midst of "Lead Your Brain" series at church. How God has made our brains to be renewed and restored. We are not designed to be stuck. What a resource you have provided for me for the rest of the series!

Jan Johnson's avatar

It's so cool, right? I was blown away.

Neural Foundry's avatar

The connection between the anterior cingulate cortex and spiritual practice is absolutly fascinating. I never considered how forgiveness could have such profound effects on our physical health as well as emotional. What really stood out to me was the distinction between choosing to forgive and the actual process of getting there. Thanks for breaking down such complex neuroscience in an accessable way.

Jan Johnson's avatar

I know, right? This whole interview blew me away! It makes so much sense and gives us some tools as well.

Dr.Don Hall's avatar

Forgiveness and Repent … Internal Devices of Empowerment.

in Aramaic culture,

it specifically referred to the

obligations created by broken

relationships. It's relational debt, not

cosmic scorekeeping. When Jesus taught people to pray washblan haane, he wasn't cosmic scorekeeping. When Jesus taught people to pray washblan han, he wasn't asking God to erase your name from some divine criminal record.

He was teaching a practice of releasing

the emotional and relational

entanglements that keep you bound to

past pain.

The prayer is about letting go of grudges, cancelling the emotional

debts others owe you, and freeing

The word washblan itself means to

untie, to release, to let go. Imagine

the prayer reInternalizes our remembered Divinity, by our own realized power, from our

entanglements, as we untie those who are entangled with us. It's a mutual

practice of liberation, not a

transaction with an angry God who needs to be appeased.

This changes the entire concept of

forgiveness in Christianity. It's not

about God deciding whether to let you

off the hook for breaking his rules.

It's about you choosing to release

yourself and others from the bondage of

resentment and obligation.

The power is in your hands, not in some distant courtroom in the sky.

Jan Johnson's avatar

Don, this is so good! This has taken me to a new level of understanding. Thank you so much for sharing!

Dr.Don Hall's avatar

Happy you saw it!