Do You Believe What You Think?
Our brains are a lot like our lungs. Our lungs breathe without us telling them to, and our brains think without us telling them to. And just like we can influence our breathing by paying attention, we can influence our thinking by paying attention.
I remember the first time I heard this analogy and how much I LOVED it! It’s so true!! If we remember that our brains are always producing thoughts, it’s easier to understand why it’s so important to tune in and see what we’re telling ourselves.
Chances are that most of our self-talk is not very nice and not very helpful. As you know, our survival instinct is always “on” and always encouraging us to assume the worst, just in case. So paying attention to that inner voice is key to shifting it to more positive self-talk.
This is one of the most important keys to increasing our happiness and decreasing our stress because we tend to listen to and believe our inner voice. No wonder it has a huge impact on the way we see ourselves and the world around us!
Watch what you tell yourself, you’re likely to believe it. – Russ Kyle
Of course, changing that inner voice is easier said than done. That’s why I was so excited to find this valuable article by Elaine Mead, BSc. It’s full of insights, ideas, and activities to help us shift.
For example, here are five of the ten examples of positive self-talk Elaine shares in her article:
- I have the power to change my mind.
- Attempting to do this took courage, and I am proud of myself for trying.
- Even though it wasn’t the outcome I hoped for, I learned a lot about myself.
- I might still have a way to go, but I am proud of how far I have already come.
- I am capable and strong; I can get through this.
This week, pay attention to your inner-voice. If it’s negative, try using one of the positive examples from above to shift your thoughts.
