Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Talk to the person about surface-level subjects first. Watch for clues that show the person may be looking for direction in their life. Be sensitive to the person's needs. Use your conversation as an opening to introduce the subject of your faith. Remain respectful of the other person. Stop if the person seems very uncomfortable or aggressive. Share your faith in an authentic, warm way. Offer to pray with the person if they'd like to accept Jesus as their savior.

Answer: If you sit down next to a stranger and start talking to them about their soul, there's a chance they'll be alarmed enough to move away from you. Similarly, if you approach a family member or a close friend and start talking about your faith without any lead-in, they might be somewhat put off. Instead, spend some time having a normal conversation with the person.  If you're talking to someone you don't know well, make normal small talk about subjects like their family, hobbies, or career. If you're spending time with someone you're already close to, try asking them about things that you know have been going on in their life, or touch base on something you talked about the last time you saw them. Some conversations might never go farther than this, and that's fine. However, continue to pray that God will help you look for signs that a person would be open to a spiritual conversation, and that He'll give you the courage to be a witness for Him. Jesus' message of hope, love, and forgiveness are extremely powerful, especially to someone who's struggling to find their place in life. If you're talking to someone who seems to be deeply sad, anxious, or fearful, even if they're cheerful on the surface, they might be open to hearing God's word.  For instance, you might hear a friend say something like, “I just don't know what I'm going to do with my life. My career didn't work out like I thought it would, and my relationships have all been disasters.” The message that God has a plan for their life might give them hope. You might also hear someone say, “I feel worried all the time and I don't know why.” In that case, the person might be open to God's message of hope and peace. Other conversations that might lead to a discussion of God could include comments about what happens after people die, feeling a lack of connection to the world around them, or even who created nature or mankind. Sometimes, it can seem insensitive if you quote Scripture as a blanket answer to someone's struggles, especially if they're opening up to you in a vulnerable and candid way. Try to talk to the individual in a way that's personal and sympathetic, allowing them to feel God's love through you. That will be much more effective than saying, "The Bible says that God loves you." If a friend or loved one is severely depressed and you're concerned they might hurt themselves, call for emergency help. Once they're out of danger, you may be able to share your faith as a way to help them heal their inner pain, but it's important to have professionals help someone who's in crisis. If you live in the US, call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also see a list of international hotlines by visiting https://ibpf.org/resource/list-international-suicide-hotlines. As with any type of conversation, the exact way you'll do this will depend on what you and the other person are talking about. Try to let the conversation develop organically, and pray for guidance, wisdom, and sensitivity as you move forward.  In the case of the friend who's concerned about their career and failed dating attempts, you might say something like, “I really believe that God has a plan for your life. It might not seem like it now, but He can do great things in your life if you trust Him.” If you're talking to your friend who's always worried, you might say, “My relationship with God has really helped me handle all the stress in my life. I still get overwhelmed sometimes, but praying gives me a lot of peace. Is it okay if I share my story with you?” While you're sharing Jesus' story of resurrection and redemption, remember to treat the other person with respect. Don't talk down to them, belittle their beliefs, or discount their opinions, whether you agree with what they're saying or not. Instead, open yourself to learning from their struggles and experience, while remaining firm in your own faith. Leave it up to God to show the person which of their specific behaviors are sinful. Avoid judging the person or criticizing the way that they live, although you can point out that they—like everyone else—have likely committed a sin or two throughout their lives. Unfortunately, some people are predisposed to be closed off to God's message. They may have had hurtful encounters with religious people in the past, or they may simply have a negative view of the church. If you sense that the person is hostile towards your message, gently change the subject.  You're more likely to leave the person with a good impression by handling the situation with grace and kindness, rather than by trying to force them to listen to what you have to say. If the person seems receptive to your message, or if they have a neutral response, you can move forward with sharing your witness. God's message of forgiveness is a beautiful story, although a frank discussion of sin can be very uncomfortable. Try to channel God's love for the person as you're talking to them, keeping the focus on the story of redemption and sacrifice.  You might say something like, “I believe that God sent His son Jesus to earth, and Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. I get a lot of peace from my relationship with God, and I'd love to share that with you.” Then, tell them more about Jesus' life and death, based on your studying of the Scripture. It can often be very effective to share your own story of how you were saved, rather than just explaining the message in an abstract way. Avoid using in-depth theological terms the person might be unfamiliar with. Instead, stick to simple, everyday language.   Try to approach every opportunity to witness with humility, patience, and kindness. Once you've presented the story of Jesus to the other person, it's up to the Holy Spirit and that person whether they're going to accept. If they do want to repent of their sins and follow Jesus, you can lead them in a simple prayer. However, keep in mind that your intention is just to be a vessel for God to work through, so don't take it personally if they say no.  If they do want to pray, ask them to say something like, “Dear Lord, I know I am not perfect. I want to turn my life over to Jesus and have a personal relationship with God. Thank you for loving me, and please forgive me for my sins. Amen.” After the person prays, encourage them to get baptized and start attending a church where they feel comfortable.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Identify your obsessive thoughts and behaviors. Determine if there are any underlying factors causing your obsession. Try to avoid things that trigger your obsession. Focus on the details of your present surroundings. Visualize intrusive thoughts leaving your mind. Develop a ritual that reminds you to stop obsessing.

Answer:
Take note of when you can't get your mind off of the person. You might want to check their social media profiles, or get the urge to call or text them. Call yourself out, and tell yourself that you have the power to redirect your thoughts.  Tell yourself, “These are obsessive thoughts,” or “I’m acting obsessively.” Say, “These thoughts don’t control me; I control them.” Sometimes, obsessive thoughts and actions can go unnoticed, or they might even feel good. Trying to pretend they don’t exist won’t do you any good. Instead, recognize them, acknowledge that you have better things to do, and remind yourself that you can manage them. Obsession, like addiction, can sometimes be a symptom of a larger need or problem in your life. Consider if there is something missing in your life that you thought this person could provide. See if there is another way you can find what you need.  Write down what this person makes you feel when you are with them. Think about how you feel when they are gone. Consider what might be causing these feelings in your life. For example, you might discover that you are afraid of being lonely. If this is the case, consider joining a class or club to meet new people. Notice when and where you start to think or act obsessively. It might be difficult, especially at first, but do your best to resist obsessive urges when you face a trigger. If you can’t remove yourself from the trigger, focus on controlling your response to it.  For instance, if you constantly check the person’s social media profiles or get the urge to text them, getting rid of your phone or computer isn’t practical. Instead, you could use features that remove their posts from your newsfeed or unfollow them. If you’re obsessing over your ex, give them their stuff back and try to keep things that remind you of them out of sight and out of mind.  If you can’t avoid being around the person, try to keep your distance. If they sit next to you at school, try to avoid eye contact and imagine they’re someone else. Try to focus on your task at hand, like taking class notes. When you feel yourself getting fixated, take a deep breath and close your eyes. Listen carefully to the sounds around you and think about all of the other sensations you’re experiencing at that moment.  Ask yourself, “What’s the temperature right now? Am I hot, cold, or comfortable? What sounds and smells am I sensing right now? What is the weather like right now? What does the sky look like?” Obsession often involves thoughts like, “What if I did this?” or “What are they doing right now?” These thoughts focus on other locations or dwell on the past or future. Concentrating on your surroundings can help you keep your thoughts in the here and now. Try imaging your mind as a floor, and your obsessive thoughts are dirt and dust covering the floor. Whenever you start to dwell, visualize yourself sweeping away all the dust and dirt with a broom.  You could also imagine that the intrusive thoughts are a barking dog. Visualize yourself walking by a barking dog behind a fence. Say to yourself, “It’s just noise, and the dog can’t hurt me. In a few minutes, I’ll cross to the next block and the dog will be far behind me.” Try shaking off obsessive thoughts. When you experience them, shake your head, arms, legs, and body. Imagine that you’re shaking out the thoughts and resetting your mind. When you think about the person or get the urge to contact them, imagine a big stop sign. You could also wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you think or act obsessively. Rituals, such as visualizing a stop sign or snapping a rubber band, are good ways to remind yourself that you need to redirect your thoughts. Do your ritual, then tell yourself, “Stop! I need to stop this thought pattern and do something to distract myself.”