Why does this happen to me?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yogi89
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Y

Yogi89

Guest
I used to have random bad thoughts come into my mind sometimes, but for awhile my mind has been pretty good at not having these thoughts enter. Until today. During mass, a bad/sexual thought popped into my head, and I was trying to not dwell on it and forget it, and it helped and but then since I think I was trying too much, the same thought entered but for a second. I was fine after that, and the rest of the day. But, I’m upset when this happens because sometimes I start to think that I wanted the thought because I don’t get how these thoughts can just pop up that way. Does this happen to anyone else?
 
Random thoughts? Yep. Try concentrating on the mass. Now this may sound weird, but sit in a different part of the church next week, not just further back, but on the opposite side, the change in persepective may be enough to squash the random wandering!
 
Thoughts come and go. No worries. Try not to become attached to them. Seems like you can do that. Just let them go. Good work.
 
puzzledtoo said:
Thoughts come and go. No worries. Try not to become attached to them. Seems like you can do that. Just let them go. Good work.
Click to expand...
I agree.

A guy who was drop dead gorgeous and had a lovely foreign accent came into the cafe where I work in response to an ad for staff in the window. I thought, ‘Wow!’ When he left I joked to a colleague, ‘Put his CV to the top of the pile. In fact give it here so I can amend it.’ My colleague joked back and said, ‘No way - there would be no work done as you would be following him around all the time.’ I have not thought of him again and if I fell over him in the street I would probably not recognize him.
 
Sometimes God allows temptations as “exercise” for our virtues.

ETA: remember to ask for His help when it happens!
 
It’s impossible (in my experience at least) to get rid of a thought my concentrating on it, trying to sweep it out of my mind. It’s better to concentrate on another thought. If it usually happens at mass, CrusaderBear hit the nail on the head: concentrate on the mass.

When it happens (and it will happen!) at other times, don’t pray against it, but pray for someone else or thank God for being alive or whatever good gift he’s given you.
 
St John Vianney, one of the holiest men I’ve ever heard of, the patron Saint of priests, used to say that his worst temptations happened to him during the Mass.

Don’t worry about it!!!
 
Hello.

I have trouble with this too.

A friend of mine told me that I’m in control of my thoughts and if I don’t like one, I can send it back. I can dismiss it then send it to the foot of the Cross, I can tell the thought it is not welcome and I can show it the door. I guess I could shoot the thought with an imaginary thought gun. That’s something I haven’t tried.

Then I can ask my guardian angel for “HELP!”

I think the bad one likes to tempt us, especially during Mass. Most bent thoughts that come into my head are probably from my own warped imagination, but sometimes they do come from the bad one, at least that’s how I understand things → please correct me if I’m wrong.
Yogi89 said:
But, I’m upset when this happens because sometimes I start to think that I wanted the thought because I don’t get how these thoughts can just pop up that way. Does this happen to anyone else?
Click to expand...
 
Yeah, that happens to me sometimes. Out of nowhere, a sexual thought will pop up and I have to fight back by thinking about other things. Next time you’ve got a picture of a woman/man in your mind, try to imagine Christ as those spikes are tearing through his flesh.
 
I have read so many works of spirituality lately that they are all muddled in my head, but I believe St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux both treat the problem of distractions and sinful thoughts, primarily during mass/prayer. The recommendation they give is to immediately take refuge in Jesus. St. Therese, I believe, says to take refuge in His Holy name. So immediately upon having these, seemingly inevitable thoughts, turn your mind to Jesus. They both specifically recommend against fighting unholy thoughts directly and instead turn yourself to Jesus. St. Therese even calls such a fight “cowardice”.

It works beautifully, if you can remember to do it. I struggle remembering to do it.
 
Wesrock said:
Yes. You did the right thing, no sin, nothing to be anxious about. You’re not abnormal. It happens to most everybody.
Click to expand...
Thank you! But, the thing is, whenever it has happened, at least the last couple most recent times, it’s not as if I was attracted to that person or something… In fact, not at all. But, it still came into my mind. I realize it’s ok, as long as I try to forget it and move on to better thoughts.

Thanks everyone!
 
Amator_Dei said:
I have read so many works of spirituality lately that they are all muddled in my head, but I believe St. Teresa of Avila and St. Therese of Lisieux both treat the problem of distractions and sinful thoughts, primarily during mass/prayer. The recommendation they give is to immediately take refuge in Jesus. St. Therese, I believe, says to take refuge in His Holy name. So immediately upon having these, seemingly inevitable thoughts, turn your mind to Jesus. They both specifically recommend against fighting unholy thoughts directly and instead turn yourself to Jesus. St. Therese even calls such a fight “cowardice”.

It works beautifully, if you can remember to do it. I struggle remembering to do it.
Click to expand...
This is great to know! Thank you so much!
 
Before every mass, I have to pray: “Lord, please cleanse the thoughts of my heart, that I may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy holy name.”
Also “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw near to you.”

.
 
This is normal to get these thought in mind that are not exactly right.

I get bad thoughts from time to time.

When I find myself starting to keep that incorrect thought in mind, I tell myself “I’m NOT going there” and quickly move on to something else in my mind. Sometimes it helps to distract myself.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top