Demonic Possession

Send us Fan MailDemonic PossessionIt’s obvious that we have thoughts. What’s a little less obvious is that sometimes . . . our thoughts have us.That’s probably how the phrase “The Devil made me do it” came to be.Because let’s be honest — thoughts can feel like they’ve taken over the house.And yes, they do have a grip on us. But here’s the good news: you can hand them their walking papers.Years ago,The Grasshopper said something that stuck with me: “You’re not possessed by a thought once you notice it.”That moment — the moment of noticing — is where freedom shows up. That’s when the demon loses its power.Now, it’s easy to see how ancient people came up with the idea of demonic possession. If something is yelling awful things in your head, won’t leave, and refuses to be reasoned with . . . I mean, what else would you call it?So do you need an exorcism?Nah.The only ritual required . . . is noticing.When you notice a thought, you open the door for it to leave. And like any worthwhile habit, noticing takes a little practice.Because thoughts are the ultimate couch potatoes.They want to get comfortable, kick their shoes off, and stay way longer than the three days Benjamin Franklin warned us about.And they’re loud. Insulting. Threatening. Crass. Completely inappropriate.But here’s an overlooked fact — it’s your house.You can show them the door anytime.How?Just pause and notice the thought while it’s happening. Don’t argue with it. Don’t scold it. Don’t try to win.Just notice it.That small bit of attention cracks the door open . . . and the thought tends to slither right out.Now, make no mistake — this isn’t a one-time deal. They’ll be back. They love free room and board. And oh, do they love a good argument.The key is practice.The better you get at noticing, the less often they stop by.So if you want freedom from the demon, and haven’t written to Santa yet, consider asking for a truly valuable possession — the gift of noticing.All the best,John