In this episode I go through some thought "equations" so I can work through some of the negative thoughts that might ruin my experience at the Vision Christian Writers Conference this weekend if I keep thinking them.

Here's the basic equation:

Circumstance

Thought

Emotion

Action

Result

Now I'll plug my thoughts, etc. into it:

C - Writers Conference

T - I don't belong here

E - Fear/shame

A - I don't connect well with anyone

R - I feel like I don't belong and I don't enjoy myself

If I catch that thought and do an intentional equation, I can turn it around:

C - Writers Conference

T - I'm so glad I get to be here

E - Excitement/anticipation

A - I connect with other writers and learn as much as I can

R - I enjoy the conference

Here's another thought equation:

C - Writers Conference

T - I haven't accomplished enough since last year

E - Guilt/shame

A - I don't talk about what I have done or what I want to do

R - I don't move forward with any of my writing goals

Now let's catch that thought:

C - Writers Conference

T - My writing journey is a marathon, not a sprint

E - Relief

A - I keep moving forward instead of looking behind me

R - I make slow, steady progress on my goals

Here's one last thought:

C - Writers Conference

T - I don't look good enough

E - Self-conscious

A - Shrink and hide

R - I focus on how I look

Now let's turn it around:

C - Writers Conference

T - I am loved and chosen by God

E - Peace/joy

A - I look at others instead of myself

R - I make new friends and radiate God's love

I hope you can see how doing these equations might help you catch the negative, unhelpful thoughts bouncing around in your mind. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

You're invited to join my free, private Facebook group. You can also check out more of my writing at robynmulder.com and therobynsnest.org.

If you deal with mental health problems like depression or anxiety, I invite you to check out my book Staying Away from the Edge. It's available on Amazon.

Thanks so much for listening!

I sat down with five amazing writers at the 2024 Vision Christian Writers Conference at Mount Hermon almost a year ago. Listen in as we talk about some of the negative thoughts writers deal with. I was beating myself up for waiting so long to record my part of this episode and get it published, but maybe it was meant to be. As I listened to these interviews again, I felt inspired and encouraged as I get ready to attend the 2025 conference on April 11. Maybe I can attend and really enjoy myself as I catch any negative thoughts that try to creep in while I'm there.

Most of the spots are filled for this year's conference, but you can check it out at vcwconf.com

And here's where you can learn more about each of the women I interviewed:

Pam Fields: tendingfields.net

Janet McHenry: janetmchenry.com

Robin Patchen: robinpatchen.com

Tara Johnson: tarajohnsonstories.com

S.E. Clancy: seclancy.com

I want to thank each of these women for spending some time with me at the conference. I know their words of wisdom and encouragement will be a blessing to anyone who listens to this episode.

Remember, you can join my free, private Facebook group and get a little more help with catching your thoughts: Catch Your Thought with Robyn Mulder

Thanks for listening!

After way too many months away, I'm back with the first episode of 2025. I hope you'll stick with me as we move forward into this new year. I still need lots of practice as I catch my thoughts. Stay tuned and we'll see if I can fall into a semi-regular schedule for this podcast.

Toward the end of this episode, I shared the two theme verses for this podcast (and my free, private Facebook group of the same name).

2 Corinthians 10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

It seems fitting to review those two verses as we start over and begin a new year. Let's never give up as we learn to catch our negative thoughts and replace them with God's truth.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Remember that you can find more of my writings at robynmulder.com and therobynsnest.org.

Thanks so much for listening!

~Robyn

Identity was the theme at the Vision Christian Writers Conference I attended a couple of weeks ago. We also talked about it at youth group on Wednesday.

We really need to catch our thoughts about identity so we don't find all of our worth in what the world around us says about us. Instead, we can find our identity in what God says about us. He loves us completely!

Verses in this episode (from the NIV):

John 1:12 (we are children of God)

John 15:15 (we are friends of Jesus)

Romans 8:2 (we are free)

Romans 8:17 (we are heirs of God)

Galatians 3:28 (we're all one with other believers)

Ephesians 1:3 (we're blessed)

Be sure to check out "You Say" by Lauren Daigle. It has so many lines that can help us remember that we have to believe what God says about us. That's where we find our true identity.

You are loved and you have great worth!

A bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being hit by a barge. Situations like that can cause fear and anxiety as we think about all of the things that could go wrong in life.

Our thoughts can ramp up those fears, so let's catch them and make sure we're relying on God, whatever comes our way.

Deuteronomy 31:6 is one of the many verses that reminds us not to be afraid. God is with us and we can rely on him.

Very soon I hope to release an episode with short interviews from several authors at the 2024 Vision Christian Writers Conference at Mt. Hermon Camp and Conference Center near Felton, CA. Check back next week and see if I get it done!

Thanks so much for listening to Catch Your Thoughts. I'd love it if you could leave a positive review wherever you listen so other people can find this podcast. Thanks!

Great news about my lost $40 from last week's episode.

I also share some situations that have been stressing me out and giving me lots of reasons to keep practice catching my thoughts.

I share Proverbs 4:23 (from the NIV and the New Century Version) and remind all of us that our thoughts run our lives.

Keep catching those thoughts, everyone!

We have to keep catching our thoughts, even when we have a hard day. Listen in as I share some mistakes I made today and how hard it was to catch my thoughts.

Grace is the key for all of us. We have to keep going, even on the hard days.

Quoted in this episode: Romans 3:22–24 NIV

It's that time of year. The resolutions just aren't happening like we thought they would. Time for a little pep talk. I don't know about you, but I sure need one!

In this episode:

Hebrews 2:1 NIV

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

How our thoughts affect us:

Circumstance (they're really all neutral, even if they seem positive or negative from the outside looking in)

Thought (what we think about the circumstance)

Emotion (what we feel as a result of the thoughts we're having)

Action (the action we take or don't take because of the emotions we feel)

Result (almost always linked back to the thought we had)

Keep practicing as you catch those negative, unhelpful thoughts. Consider joining my free, private Facebook group: Catch Your Thoughts with Robyn Mulder.

I write over at robynmulder.com.

I'd love to hear from you! You can write me at robyn@robynmulder.com