Paul's lesson to the Romans

To his frustration, after three weeks, a few provocations are enough for everything to go back to the way it was before...

One of the most relevant words in our century is “Re-signification” (reformulation).

Much said in the midst of human development, this word is related to beliefs we build in the course of life. When we question what we believe, we broaden our vision and start to see situations from another angle and when we accept a new perspective, we change the way of thinking (metanoia).

I speak of giving a new meaning to beliefs – that is – reframing.

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Belief example:

“Everyone will be fair to me”.

A belief considered limiting, as it limits your perception of expectation. When a person is not fair, you will feel violated to the point of losing reason and reacting only emotionally.

Reframing:

“Not everyone will be fair to me and that I can't control”.

Your expectation of reciprocity decreases, which prevents your health when injustice comes.

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This is exactly what Paul of Tarsus wrote about in his letter to the Romans (57 BCE).

This letter, recorded in the Christian Bible, has Paul's reflections and guidelines regarding the justice of God and the conversion process of anyone who accepted the life of Jesus as their model of conduct.

Let's see what is written in Romans 12: 2:

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“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by renewing your mind, so that you may experience the good, acceptable and perfect will of God”.

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Note that in this text there is a process to be understood and that can change the perspective of any human being. This is not a religious passage – although many try to do so – but a therapeutic guideline for physical-spiritual evolution.

Paul mentioned three important words that we are going to discuss:

1. Transformation;

2. Renewal;

3. Experience.

Transformation is an event we want to go through at some point in our lives. This word, by itself, brings abstract thoughts, as it suggests several definitions. To understand it, it is necessary to assign a scenario so that we know what needs to be transformed.

In moments of despair, for example, we say that “if I get out of this, I will be someone else”. What are we really saying with this statement? That we will change our way of living, whether in thinking or acting on the world and on people. This, romantically speaking, is what we call “transformation” and is what was mentioned in the letter to the Romans.

From that point of view, let's delve into the subtleties of Paul.

He guided people to seek transformation. However, he added that this can only be possible “by the renewing of your mind.” Realize that he is giving us a recipe for human development.

Note the following:

Somewhere you've heard (or read) that you need to change your life and that this is directly related to your attitudes. You analyze how you have behaved under circumstances and decide to change your actions and reactions. In the early days, your determination reveals how much you can change yourself. You see yourself as a new person. But, to his frustration, after three weeks, a few provocations are enough for everything to go back to the way it was before – or even worse.

Why didn't the "transformation" actually take place?

The reason was that you made an effort to change your attitudes without questioning your beliefs and with that, you didn't change your way of thinking.

This is exactly what the Pauline text is about. Nothing is going to change in you if your cognition is not reassessed, which Paul called "renewal".

Beliefs, thoughts, emotions and feelings form a chain that results in actions. Everything related to the environment in which you live and the messages you absorb through your senses. This process is not easy and, therefore, many give up and remain the way they learned to be.

You mature when you accept that not everything you keep in the unconscious is useful for your development as a human being. Therefore, resignifying your beliefs means renewing your mind. It's like cleaning in which you separate what is still useful and what needs to be recycled. Thus, new attitudes happen automatically.

Paulo ends the text talking about the consequence of this transformation through mental renewal:

“... that you may prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God”.

This experience with God's will is the result of reframing. You stop judging and become more grateful for everything that happens in your life. And more... Give thanks for all the people who crossed your path, no matter what they brought you good or bad.

With that, you accept that everything that was meant to be already is, whether you agree or not. Everything becomes more pleasant, everything seems to be good and perfect.

Thanks for being here.

Anderson Cruz.

Writer, therapist and graduate student in philosophy.