What’s on your mind?
Our thoughts dominate our entire lives. Our thoughts demonstrate how we feel about ourselves; how we feel about others. Some thoughts formed at a very early age define our belief system and have written the story of how we see the world. Certain thoughts will repeat over and over again, inducing specific emotions and driving your actions. Those actions, driven from your emotions, will create your results in life. But, it all starts with your thoughts; if you can learn to manage your thoughts, you can learn to overcome anxiety and overwhelm. You can learn to master your self-talk, to fully love yourself and be accepting of others. You can move from a mind FULL of thoughts you don’t want to being mindful and choosing the thoughts you want.
The first step is to learn how to manage your thoughts. In order to let go of false beliefs, we have to practice observing our thoughts and recognize when we are acting on old stories about our worth. You don’t just tell yourself to STOP having negative thoughts, because then you are thinking about STOPPING negative thoughts! When you catch yourself having a negative thought, recognize that you don’t have to get attached to it and choose to let it pass.
This, in turn, will create a new resulting emotion that supports you in taking more self-honoring actions. By repeatedly choosing not to get caught up in the old stories, we can begin to experience the world in a new way. The more we work toward mindfulness and self-kindness, the quicker we will default to it.
When I coach my clients we explore and uncover those deeply seeded false beliefs (thoughts) and we begin to write a new story, one that supports them in being, doing and having the life they’ve always longed for.
If you were able to manage your thoughts and write that new story, how could that change your life?