Repetition equals truth. Do you believe it?
Defined as a “glitch” of the human psyche, repetition is probably the most effective strategy used for both good and evil purposes.
What creates brand awareness and loyalty, if not repetition? Everyone has a brand they are loyal to, no matter what, whether it be vehicles, sporting equipment, household cleaners, there is at least one brand that you will never stray from.
Repetition has become the number one strategy used in politics for who will vote for an unknown candidate. Ask yourself how a celebrity, with no prior experience in public office, can win an election for State Governor, President, or Prime Minister?
Good or evil, right or wrong, it comes down to exposure. Exposure will determine influence. The more exposure there is, the stronger the influence becomes. The stronger the influence becomes the more it is believed to be true.
When repetition is used to manipulate the mass, opinion overshadows truth and common sense is accused of conspiracy. When repetition is used for the greater good, questions and challenges are not only allowed but invited.
Take for example, COVID. How many times has this virus been reported on and talked about? Which is easier to believe, a bat that infected the world or a genetically modified virus? If you say it was the bat or the lab experiment there should be room for questioning and challenge. If there is no room to hold an intelligent and respectful conversation, chances are the repetition of the message is being used to manipulate.
On the other side we find a fun piece of history regarding the Berean Jews. It was said that the Berean Jews were of more noble character than the others because of the way they responded to the message the Apostle Paul preached. They tested it against the truth of God’s Word (Acts 17:11).
One cannot argue that Paul experienced many supernatural events that gave his message credibility. Word about his experiences spread quickly and he became well known. No matter how popular he was, no matter how many times the Berean Jews heard of this man named, Paul, they still measured his preaching against the truth of God’s Word before they believed his message.
Let’s make this personal. Self-talk. What is it that you believe about yourself?
A child would never believe they are stupid unless they are exposed to another person, whether it be a parent, sibling, teacher, or peer, telling them that they are. How long do the words need to be repeated before believed? Frequent exposure begins to influence the way the child thinks about themselves. Once the child believes the message that they are stupid, they no longer have to hear it from anyone as they are saying it to themselves and stupid becomes who they think they are and is shown by how they live.
As life goes on, this child grows into an adult who has formed destructive attitudes and habits out of their belief that they are stupid, not able to know better. Years spent struggling financially working jobs made for stupid people. Patterns of destructive relationships have led to addiction. Doesn’t have to be addiction to a substance, can be addiction to destroying relationship after relationship. Loneliness has become a friend as the self-talk that led the child is now carved on the wall of their heart so that it is both seen and heard.
The child who was exposed to accusations of being stupid became influenced by those words and eventually believed it to be true.
Until one day, this child who grew into an adult, met a someone who was different. The manner in which this person treated them was uncomfortably awkward. After you spend the majority of life believing the lie repeated, it is uncomfortably awkward to hear someone say you are not stupid. In fact, you just might be a genius.
How many times do those statements need to be repeated before they are believed? It is said to be a 10:1 ratio of life-giving statements to insults. Perhaps that experiment confused how to train a dog with how to help others heal.
Repetition equals truth – choose God’s Truth
God created us with a mind that is powerful and a brain that can change neuropathways with a single thought. When we improve the quality of our thoughts and begin to dispose the destruction that comes from stinkin’ thinkin’, life is restored, and we begin to feel younger. But this does not happen by creating a mantra to repeat.
It begins by challenging your destructive thoughts and practice using a healthier thought. In the example of this child, now an adult, they may begin to challenge the destructive habits, such as addiction, and will soon expose the root of the lie. The lie that was believed was that the child was stupid.
Through the counsel of Holy Spirit and His people, this lie can be replaced with truth, the right kind of thinking. It is done in repetition, but not as you picture it. Sixty-three days is how long it takes to develop a long-term memory; therefore, this person will challenge their thoughts daily for 63 days.
Sixty-three days may seem like a big commitment and a lot of effort, but that alone is a destructive thought. How many more days will you allow yourself to be misled before doing something about it.
It’s time to stop allowing repetition to drain the life out of you and turn it into restoring life in you. Repetition equals truth!
