I often have times when I am supposed to be working on something (usually writing) and a “million” reasons why I can’t or won’t come up. Of course, a million is a gross exaggeration. The limiting beliefs start up, telling me why even attempting to write is a waste of time: It won’t be any good, no one will read it, you have no ability to write anything decent, this is such a waste of time and effort, etc. So I work to sit with those thoughts for a bit. I do some other things, but also open up this document to write. As I begin the job of gathering my thoughts, I also think this: You have been working to change the way you think about things. Why not change the way you are thinking about this? I am aware that doing that is entirely in my control and I can do it (change my thoughts) very well. So here I am, electing to change how I am thinking about it. And when I do, I automatically feel better about it. Thoughts affect Feelings, which affect Actions, which affect Results. Just realizing that I have the choice and ability to change how I am thinking about something is a major game changer.
First, I am proud of myself for even THINKING that I have the ability to change my thoughts and affect my limiting beliefs. I usually (I try not to say “normally”, as that is such a subjective term,) just go along with the thought/belief that I have and call it truth. But thoughts are just that, thoughts. Not truth. Think about all of the times that you played the “What If” game in your mind. It plays like a movie in your head, with sights, sounds and even smells at times. But that thought may not play out in reality, right? However, we often take our limiting beliefs as gospel truth without another thought about it (Ha! Another thought!) So maybe we SHOULD have another thought about it. Looking at it from the outside/observer position gives us a chance to review that belief for facts. I know that the trick to regularly reviewing our thoughts and beliefs is practice. We have to continually practice being aware of what we are thinking. That is the hard part. But is it really that hard? What it requires is that we spend less time “checked out” of or from ourselves and more time in the here and now of our minds. I know that may be scary for some people. But if you are worried that your thoughts are scary, being aware of them means that you have the chance and choice to change what and how you are thinking.
So how do you start this? It’s not very difficult. Just spend some time (you can start with 5 minutes) being aware of what thoughts are going through your mind. Just pay attention to what you are thinking. I know that there are a LOT of thoughts going on. Just pay attention to them. You don’t have to change any of them right now. Don’t judge them, either. Be gentle and easy with yourself. You are just observing. No action is needed. This is solely a “fact-finding” mission, with absolutely no expectations. Just observe. We spend so much time on “auto-pilot” that we are often not even aware that we are actually ON auto-pilot. We all do it. It’s just like when you are driving, get to your destination, and have little to no memory of the drive. So take your brain off of cruise control for a few minutes and see what’s going on in there. Just observe. Then you can go back into auto-pilot. If you choose. You may choose to or you may choose to be more aware of your thoughts. The power is that you get to choose. Accept that power.