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TOPUCU Adult Faith-Based Workbook                                                                        Lesson 4: Part 1



 LESSON 4: PART 1
            to think; maybe I deserve that bowl of ice               cream becomes two big scoops of ice cream.
 E TO THE 7  POWER  cream at ten o’clock at night. Or, I really don’t   And so forth and so on until you’re right
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                                                                     back where you didn’t want to be. Examining
            feel like doing that last set of curls. Or maybe


              "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
 Welcome to Lesson 4 of the TOPUCU Starter   In this passage of scripture it is clear that   or praiseworthy--think about such things." — Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
 Program! You’re just about halfway through   Paul is emphasizing the power of the mind
 the 7 lessons. Congratulations! But you’re not   and reminding the church that dwelling on
 done yet. Keep plugging away because all   righteous things can bring about positive   I’ll watch just one more hour of television.    a thought is pivotal in the “7 E’s” because
 of the powerful principles, tools and secrets   things, or at the very least keep a man or   Or perhaps I’ll skip my devotional time today.   allowing ourselves to justify that first step
 from Lessons One, Two and Three won’t have   woman from slipping into negative thought   Whatever change you’re working on, that   backwards inevitably leads to the proverbial
 as much effect if you don’t continue and   patterns or behaviors. In other words our   trigger or craving to fall back into a negative   slippery slope.
 finish what you’ve started. Today’s lesson   thoughts have great power. The formula   habit is going to come back over and over   The fourth E stands for “Enjoy.” Once
 tackles an idea that is truly at the center of   we’re going to teach you in this lesson   again. This is the entrance of a potentially   you’ve allowed your mind to rationalize this
 it all. You’re going to learn some techniques   will help you to harness that power in a   destructive thought.  negative thought that has led to a negative
 that can be used to take back control of   transformative way.   The second E stands for “Entertain.”    decision, you begin to remember how much
 that central processing unit we call a brain.   Once the thought enters your brain you   you enjoyed this negative behavior, even
 Now, there’s tons of clinical research and   The Formula – which you should add to   begin to think about it. You make a cognitive   though you knew it was bad for you. All of
 data out there that attempts to explain all   your TOPUCU Toolbox – is called “E to the   decision to entertain that thought. By way   us humans struggle with this. The enjoyment
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 of the nuances of the brain but at the end   7  Power.” It is so important you memorize   of illustration it’s like that thought is a bird   factor is one of the biggest reasons why
 of the day that is all just information. And   and internalize the 7 E’s you will be taught   landing on your head. You can’t really do   so many of us don’t break bad habits. It’s
 remember, this is a program that is all about   today. We’ve talked about motivation and   anything about the bird flying over and   easy to go back to something that gives
 transformation, so we’re going to talk about   how to stay motivated, but what happens   perching on you. But the question is, will you   us pleasure. But it is for this reason that
 how to get your brain to think differently;   when you simply lose faith and belief in   entertain the intentions of the bird? Will you   we talked about the Pain Association
 to see things differently; to approach and   yourself that you can do what you’ve set out   let that bird build a nest on your head? Will   Transfer technique in the previous lesson.
 apply different logical patterns to areas in   to do? That has most likely happened to you   you let it lay eggs and nurture the babies   All positive change is going to be painful or
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 your life where you want to see change; and   before. E to the 7  Power is the formula that   that are hatched later? You can’t stop the   uncomfortable in some way, so you begin
 specifically to that one habit you chose to   will explain how we allow those negative   bird from swooping down on you, but you   to enjoy the negative thoughts because it
 address in Lesson 1. Do you remember what   thoughts to take hold of us. Then in the next   can definitely stop it from creating a home   takes the pressure off. Then you find yourself
 that was? Did you write it down? Have you   part of this lesson you will learn how to get   on your head. You can’t stop the thoughts   thinking things like, “my grandfather didn’t
 been working on it? If not, go back and   back on track and remind yourself that those   from entering your brain, but you can   really amount to much; my father wasn’t any
 review the previous lessons. There is no limit   negative thoughts are only thoughts and that   stop short of entertaining those thoughts.   better, so I guess I am not really that special
 to the amount of times you can review and   you have the power to get past them. It’s a   Entertaining those thoughts is where the   and I’m not going to amount to much either.”
 study them. There should be no limit to what   powerful formula. So here we go.  path to mental destruction begins.  This kind of thinking allows you to just sit
 you’re willing to do to see positive change.                        back and wander through life, instead of
            The third E stands for “Examine.” This is
 With that said, let’s get to today’s lesson.  “E TO THE 7  POWER.”   when you begin to rationalize the negative   living to your full potential. Don’t fall into
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 In Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul writes   The first E stands for “Entrance.” This is   thought. You think to yourself, one little   the pattern of enjoying the easy road.
 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever   referring to when a negative thought enters   scoop of ice cream won’t cause that much   The fifth E stands for “Experience.” The
 is true, whatever is noble, whatever is   your brain. The first thing to understand is   damage. But we know that’s a trap. As soon   destructive thought has entered your mind,
 right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,   that we can’t stop negative thoughts from   as there is a crack in your armor, that bad   you’ve entertained it, examined it and you’ve
 whatever is admirable--if anything is   entering our brain. Anyone who tells you that   habit will start to rear its ugly head again.   enjoyed the mental break it gives you. Then
 excellent or praiseworthy--think about such   you can is not telling you the truth. You’re   A small scoop of ice cream becomes a big   you take that thought and begin to verbalize
 things.” (NIV)    going to deal with it every day. You’re going   scoop of ice cream. That big scoop of ice   it, which gives even more power to the habit


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