What was your experience like with The 8-Day Challenge?
 
As I’ve been reviewing feedback from nearly 6000 individuals that recently participated in The 8 Day Challenge, I have come across some common feedback that I thought would be of interest to you.
 
In one way or another, most participants developed a heightened awareness of the negative influences they encountered in their everyday life. Some commented on how pervasive negative thoughts, feelings, and conversations tended to be, especially in the midst of doing the challenge. Others, unsurprisingly, commented on how negative media coverage seemed to be. Many also noted that nasty gossip or “social cancer” was uncomfortably common and accepted. A significant number noticed, for the first time, how their children’s or spouse’s self-talk was so critical and self-defeating.
 
Lots of people reported the dramatic disconnect between their values on the one hand and the words and images that deluge their environment on the other hand. This was noted in the form of shallow conversations, chronic complainers, unwholesome songs, bill boards, talk radio programs, television shows and movies, and even youth sporting events.
 
Even though these observations seem bad, they are actually good. They represent awareness, and this awareness of 8:4 thinking, speaking and acting is the first step toward minimizing it in your household and in your life overall. If you did quite well over the 8 days, then this is great news. If you didn’t do so well, then there is enormous room for improvement…and this is still great news.
 
The more you focus on Philippians 4:8, the more alert you become to the people and circumstances that will lead you away from the peace and joy that God wants for all of us. Too many people are guided by what “most other people are doing.” Too many people are swept up in fads, trends, and the popular hype of the day. No matter how socially acceptable it is, don’t become one of them. Join the 4:8 crowd instead!
 
Think 4:8 during 2008!
 

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