Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life

Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life was published in 2021 (Zondervan) and written by the megachurch pastor and bestselling author Craig Groeschel. Groeschel has published more than a dozen books, many of which fall into the self-help genre and are directed at a general audience, while others are specifically devoted to issues of Christian life and practice. Beyond his pastoral ministry and writing, he is widely known as a podcaster, where he focuses on principles of organizational leadership. His ministry network, Life.Church (which, in addition to being a church, is also the developer of a globally popular Bible app), was one of the largest multisite ministries in the United States at the time of Winning the War’s publication.

Winning the War in Your Mind is a self-help book primarily intended for a Christian audience, while designed to appeal to a broader readership. The book draws inspiration from biblical principles, but its tone is not religiously dogmatic; its doctrine is centered on the presence of a loving God. Its religious material aims to be accessible to a wide readership, offering insights for those familiar with a monotheistic system of faith. Groeschel also builds his argument on the findings of contemporary neuroscience, offering counsel based on the ways that changes in one’s habits can lead to lasting changes in one’s mental processes.

Summary

Winning the War in Your Mind is built on four main points: the “Replacement Principle” (Chapters 1-3), the “Rewire Principle” (Chapters 4-6), the “Reframe Principle” (Chapters 7-9), and the “Rejoice Principle” (Chapters 10-12). The book’s structure is arranged on the dual foundations of biblical knowledge and contemporary neuroscience. Groeschel shares insights from his own experiences in each chapter. The deeply personal aspect of the book suggests that these principles are not only ideas that Groeschel advises, but ones which he has practiced himself.

The Replacement Principle—“Remove the lies, replace with truth” (5)—advises readers to undertake a process of thoughtful reflection upon their mental lives. By identifying the problem they are facing and asking probing questions of themselves, readers can begin to perceive unstated assumptions that shape their thought patterns. When they discern the false ideas and negative self-narratives motivating unwanted behaviors, they can begin to replace those lies with affirming, encouraging truths.

The second step, the Rewire Principle—“Rewire your brain, renew your mind” (61)—builds on findings from neuroscience. The brain is conditioned to adapt itself to repeated behaviors; a person’s negative thoughts or unwanted behaviors, if repeated enough, will shape one’s brain to continue those thoughts and behaviors. Groeschel refers to this neural process as being like driving a vehicle whose wheel is stuck in a rut. The solution is to use the brain’s inherent adaptability to dig a counteracting trench, a neural pathway that runs even deeper. This is done through repeated positive thoughts and healthy behaviors.

The third step is the Reframe Principle—“Reframe your mind, restore your perspective” (113). This deals with the process of learning to reconsider the way one looks at the past, present, and future. By learning to look beyond one’s momentary troubles, the reader can gain a broader perspective that helps them to respond in an even-keeled way. To reframe the past, Groeschel advises readers to consider their life stories and to thank God not only for what he did do, but also for what he didn’t. Readers are encouraged to look for the “collateral goodness” that resulted when one’s own plans did not come to fruition, but God’s did. As regards the present, Groeschel coaches his readers to stay calm and to assess the situation—including their own gut-level, immediate reactions—so that they can understand what is motivating their behavior. For the future, he tells readers to look through the problems that face them, not at the problems themselves. Instead, focusing on timeless truths—like the character of God, his presence, and his love—can help the reader hold onto a perspective that isn’t subject to the whims of their anxieties and fears.

The final step, the Rejoice Principle—“Revive your soul, reclaim your life” (149)—enjoins the reader to devote time and attention to active spiritual disciplines like praying and praising God. Such actions are not only drawn from the counsel of biblical scripture, but from neuroscience. Groeschel makes use of studies from Dr. Andrew Newberg and Dr. Caroline Leaf, both of which have shown that repeated habits of prayer and praise have positive effects on brain function and mental processes. By using prayer (rather than worry), and praise (rather than anxiety), readers can find freedom from the negative thought-cycles in their lives.

This study guide refers to the 2021 edition from Zondervan Books. Groeschel’s book employs the traditional method of using masculine pronouns to refer to God, and this study guide adopts the same method so as not to confuse the reader with differentiated styles between the main text and the quotes.