Covenant Ministries of America​

What is mind reading?

(Example)

Even though they have not told you so, you believe you know whatpeople think and feel about you, as well as why they behave the way they do towards you. "He thinks I'm stupid."

 

I’m not 100% sure, but this seems to fall in the category of projection. In other words, “what we feel or think about ourselves we project onto others, and imagine that they are thinking these thoughts, or feeling these feelings, towards us.

 

Here is the formal definition in psychological terms, from a Psyche dictionary online, with an example.

 

What is PROJECTION? definition of PROJECTION (Psychology Dictionary) http://psychologydictionary.org/projection/

 

   A psychoanalytical theory, projection is the process whereby one subject believes they see attributes (both good and bad) in another. The theory views this tendency as a defense mechanism whereby unenviable or unpleasant traits, impulses or ideas are attributed to another. In this way, the projector is able to avoid the unpleasantness in themselves. However, the theory goes on to explain that in severe cases of projection, the condition of projection may degenerate into paranoid delusions to the point that the projector believes others are responsible for the projector's problems and are secretly plotting against them. The projection basically allows a subject to ignore faults within themselves.

 

PROJECTION: "Andrew's mistrust of his neighbors turned out to be a classic case of projection."

 

   The focus here in this group is integrating psychology and Christianity or Christ. The truth is they are already integrated, we are just playing our role in informing other Christians of the usefulness and healing that God can do through the proper application of this knowledge, techniques, and through trained counselors.

 

   So how do we apply this principle to our Christian life? Let’s use just one small example of how projection can have profoundly negative effects in our relationship towards God. The scripture is very clear that God is love and there are many instances of the expression of Gods love towards humanity in both the old and new testaments.

 

• God came to Adam and Eve after the failed instead of walking away. 

• He did the first act of redemption recorded in scripture by sacrificing an animal and clothing them with the skin.

•  God rescued Lot, rescued the children of Israel, called Abraham and blessed him while Abraham was still a heathen,

• Jesus fed the multitude, the woman caught in adultery, healed the blind, went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. The list goes on and on with expressions of Gods love towards humanity.

 

   There is no reason for us to doubt his love, yet many people have learned to reject, doubt, condemn, hate, and even abuse themselves. In this state of self rejection it creates too much anxiety (rather adds more) to a mind overloaded with anxiety to begin with. They already have an anxiety adaption disorder and find it too difficult to think about the reasons why they reject themselves. In some cases it’s become a learned behavior that stems from the environment they grew up in at home or school.

 

   When they do come to faith they carry these internal dysfunctions with them in their faith and project their own self rejection upon God and imagine that God feels towards them the same as they do about themselves. I call it the Adam and Eve syndrome. They hide from God because of their cognition's are based in shame and self condemnation towards themselves. Yet they have no evidence that God is ashamed of them, rejects them, or disapproves of them other than what they believe because of their projections upon God.

 

   It’s a major stumbling block in many Christians prayer life and life in general, because if we project our own self rejection upon God then how can we have faith in his providence over our life? If we believe that God does not love us then how can we use our faith to work with the Holy Spirit to facilitate healing in our life? Faith operates through love.

 

   As I said earlier, this is usually a learned behavior; and if a behavior can be learned then it can also be unlearned, or in psyche speak, extinguished. It takes time, patience, and perseverance on our part because we are attempting to change thought patterns that have become deeply ingrained within our psyche. Yet if we will begin to acknowledge and CHOOSE to believe that God loves us, cares for us, and wants to heal our lives then gradually we will begin to see ourselves as an individual of great valuable and worth. Here are some scriptures to begin renewing your minds with i.e. changing your cognition's along with the faulty thinking of projection towards God our Father.

 

• Exo_34:6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

 

• Psa_36:7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

 

• Psa_66:20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

 

• Zep_3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

 

• Rom_5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

• Rom 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

• Psa_145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

 

• Psa 94:19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

 

   As I said, this all takes time. Some say we can develop a new thought pattern i.e. internal behavior pattern, in about 21 days to 40 days. I prefer thinking of the time frame in terms of the end result. Since projection is often a learned behavior, and we are attempting to learn a new behavior, then we need to learn at our own pace. Not everyone learns at the same speed.

 

   If it takes 21 days, great! If it takes one year, great! If it takes five years, great! The goal here is not to be the first to win the race but to actually finish the race. The important thing is to acknowledge your progress, give the Lord thanks, and reward yourself in some small way.

 

   Anyone want to add to this? Feel free to contribute because I love learning from others' perspective also.