Hallmark actress Jen Lilley shares how playing a troubled character on "Days of Our Lives" led her to a deeper understanding of God's love and the importance of flipping the script on her own negative narratives.
In the rugged mountain trails of Colorado, Hallmark actress Jen Lilley embarked on a transformative journey that extended beyond the narrow roads and steep drop-offs. Amidst the adventures she shared with her family, a realization dawned upon her: the power of changing the narrative she rehearsed in her own mind.
Jennifer Lilley acknowledges the role of self-talk in shaping our lives. "The narratives you're telling yourself, the words you think about your body, your mind, your friendships, and your hard circumstances ultimately influence how you perceive and respond to them," she emphasizes.
This realization prompted her to challenge the negative scripts she had been playing out in her head, particularly regarding off-roading. By flipping the script, she began to appreciate the beauty and challenges of her mountain adventures, recognizing them as opportunities for growth and connection.
The same principle applies to the less-than-ideal circumstances we encounter in life. "Unless I rewrite the scripts I use to narrate my everyday life, I will tell myself untrue stories about my circumstances," Lilley explains.
She draws inspiration from Paul David Tripp, a renowned author and speaker, who highlights the profound impact of our inner dialogue: "No one is more influential in your life than you are because no one talks to you more than you do."
Lilley stresses the importance of "preaching truth" to oneself, a practice she has found transformative. "When we preach truth to ourselves, we effectively flip the scripts in our minds," she says. "We choose to be fueled by what God says about who he is and who we are instead of being swayed by all the influences vying for our attention, trying to claim our lives."
Instead of dwelling on the incompleteness or hardship of her current situation, Lilley encourages us to embrace a more holistic perspective. "The story you're telling yourself about right now isn't entirely wrong, but it is incomplete," she notes. "You're not seeing the full picture, and what you do see and tell yourself is likely nowhere close to all that God has for you."
To flip the script on our hard seasons, Lilley suggests five steps:
1. Praise God for who he is.
2. Agree with God about who he says you are.
3. Remember what God has done.
4. Choose one small step of obedience.
5. Share your hard season with your community.
By focusing on God's attributes, our identity in Christ, his faithfulness, and the opportunities for growth, we can rewire our minds and embrace a more positive and hopeful outlook. "Let's flip the script on our hard seasons, shall we?" Lilley urges. "If I can start to enjoy off-riding by flipping the narrative, what can you flip? Are you letting the way you feel about your current season tell stories that drive you to dependency on God or away from him?"
Lilley emphasizes that this practice is not about self-help or positive thinking but rather about aligning ourselves with God's truth. "God's stories are better than the ones we could ever write," she declares. "Let's choose to believe them and experience the transformative power of flipping the script on our hard seasons."
