Required Reading: The Principles of TPM & MELT

A.    Principles of Emotion and Belief
1.    God has designed our minds to produce emotion matching our experiential core belief - either positive or negative. Because this is true:
a.      We feel whatever we believe
b.  We cannot make ourselves feel anything, neither good nor bad
c.      Our feelings will change when our belief(s) changes
3.    Our current situation is rarely the primary source of our emotional pain
4.    Until we take ownership for our emotions, we will remain in a perpetual cycle of self-sustained victimization with no hope for freedom
5.    Painful emotions are beneficial if we cooperate with God’s design
a.     They can alert us to problems in our belief system
b. They can motivate us to act in response to those problems
c.     They can help us to determine the true source of those problems


B.    Principle of Double-Mindedness
1.    We can hold two or more opposing beliefs at the same time (James 1:5-7).
2.    Two opposing beliefs held simultaneously always results in some level of conflict or self-anger
3.    It requires no more effort to live in the truth than it does to live in lie-based thinking—even if we are unaware of those false inner beliefs


C.    Principle of Consequence
1.    Believing a lie can have the same consequence as if it were the truth.
2.    We respond to what we believe (e.g., the power of a practical joke)


D.    Principle of Ownership
1.    Unless the person is willing to let go of blaming others, God, or his situation as the only source of his emotional pain, he will remain in bondage (this is a new concept for many and may take time to change)
3.    Holding on to blame or victimization is rooted in lie-based thinking and can be addressed by the Lord when the person is willing


E.    Principle of Context
1.    Our minds are association engines, constantly interpreting the present to historical interpretations of our life experiences.
2.    Memory is the context or container of information needed to clearly identify what we presently believe.
3.    Our emotional pain does not come from memory, but from our present lie-based core beliefs (our history is not the primary problem)
4.    When our present core belief is renewed with truth, both the memory and the present situation will feel different
5.    Because this is true, memory does not need to be “healed” or changed


F.    Principle of Belief & Choice (Belief > Emotion > Choice)
1.    Much of what we do is rooted in core belief, motivated by emotion, resulting in the choices we make
2.    Most everything that occurs in the ministry session is based upon what the client believes and the consequential choices made, but the facilitator needs to be aware of any other factors, including poor facilitation of session


G.    Principle of Biblical Authority and Divine Dependence
1.    The written Word of God is the standard for validating what occurs in TPM, so facilitators must be biblically grounded
2.    The Lord Jesus is the Source and Purifier of our faith and only He can free us from the lies we believe (Hebrews 12:2) and we cannot know experiential truth apart from the Holy Spirit (John 16:13)


H.    Principle of Continuance
1.    Mind renewal is a lifelong ongoing process.
2.    Facilitators are to lead the way in this principle.


Bonus Material: Forgiveness and Reconciliation


Almost all sessions deal with some level of forgiveness or broken relationship. Getting free in these areas is foundational to emotional strength and freedom. This just begins to scratch the surface, but it’s a good start. You’ll understand much more when you confront this in session.


Forgiveness is the releasing of a person's debt.  Most New Testament occurrences are translations from the Greek work "aphamey" which means to cut off, let loose, pardon.  Forgiveness is in the power of the wounded regardless of the attitude, behavior, or wishes of the wounder or debtor.  Forgiveness releases the wounded to move on with their lives. 


Reconciliation is not in the power of the wounded.  Reconciliation requires genuine remorse, repentance, and heart change from the life of the offender/debtor.  Until this posture is taken by the wounder, the wounded cannot administer reconciliation.  These two concepts are often mistakenly interchanged.  People can genuinely forgive an act against them and never have a relationship with the offender. 
Partly adapted from Dr. Ed Smith
Used with Permission