Overcoming the Natural Man

This topic has so many avenues and levels, it's hard to pick one. I couldn't possibly say all there is to say in one post, so I'll probably have multiple posts on this topic as thoughts and inspiration come to me. My understanding of "Overcoming the Natural Man" continues to evolve and become more personal. One of the concepts of "Overcoming the Natural Man" describes the lifelong process of transcending above and having control over those natural feelings that come with a mortal body. Jealousy, greed, anger, fear, despair, resentment, etc. Christians are taught that the natural man is an enemy to God. Yet God placed man on earth in a natural state. Therefore, there is purpose in experiencing the pull of the natural man on our spirits. While experiencing a herniated disc when I was 23, I became acquainted with the idea that our thoughts are just thoughts, and thoughts can be changed. I began the painful process of retraining my mind to turn my habitual negative thoughts into positive thoughts. It took conscious effort to mentally stop and "red flag" those negative patterns, then replace them with increasingly positive patterns. Of course we know that anything done often enough will become natural. However, Neal A. Maxwell reminds us that "the natural man or the natural woman [does not] go away quietly or easily. Hence the most grinding form of calisthenics we will ever know involves the individual isometrics required to put off the natural man. Time and again, the new self is pitted against the stubborn old self. Sometimes, just when at last we think the job is done, the old self reminds us that he or she has not fully departed yet." Constant, vigilant effort. Robert L. Millet said, "One does not put off the natural man by living longer. Nor does one change his nature simply by attending meetings. The transformation is accomplished only as one chooses to be changed through the mediation of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost, by means of gospel ordinances. In the language of President Benson, 'The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.'” The application of this complex notion begins with small steps. To become a mastery of your mind is to have control over your whole world. Begin by training your mind to depart from reactions of anger and being offended. Make a conscious effort to see others as the perfect spirit beings that they are, having a mortal experience. Remember the greatness within ourselves.

**P.S. If anyone knows how to put paragraph breaks into a blog, please let me know! Writing in one huge paragraph is driving me crazy and scattering my thoughts! I need organization!!