People often underestimate the power of the mind. What many don’t realize is that the self talk that goes on constantly in our heads is what shapes our lives. We are what we think.
Do you go through life thinking, ‘I can do this,’ or ‘I can’t do this,’ ‘I have the worst luck,’ or ‘Everything will work out’? What you think, becomes your reality. I often think about qualities that successful people possess. I truly believe it’s the people who tell themselves they can do anything, that thrive most in this world.
For years I have taken Intensati. It’s a mind body workout that incorporates positive affirmations while you workout. The effects of saying things like, “I am strong!” and “Fear, so what?!” help you push past what you may think is your limit. It’s so easy for people to just give up because they think they can’t do something…and guess what? A belief is just a repeated thought, so if you think, ‘I can’t’ over and over again, it becomes true. The exciting thing is, it’s true for the opposite as well!
For certain people, things just always appear to work out. Let me tell you though, people aren’t just born lucky, they create their luck. It’s because they believe in themselves and that life has their back. This is not to say that fear is never an issue, it just means they don’t let it stop them.
I do things that scare the crap out of me all the time! Whether it’s taking a trapeze class, a new class at the gym, a course in coaching, writing an article, organizing a business proposal, flying on an airplane, having a difficult conversation, or challenging myself to break through an old pattern that no longer serves me, I just go for it. I regularly have to tell myself, “I can do this.” If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
For those of you who are skeptics, how do you explain placebo effects? When people think they are taking medicine, they believe they will get better, and often do! The same type of magic can occur every day!
One of my mentors, Martha Beck, taught me to put a face to that little voice in my head that likes to tell me things like, “You can’t do that,” and “What will people think?” I decided it looks like a little Gremlin. Whenever I notice I am thinking unkind thoughts about myself, I picture my Gremlin, give him a pat on his head, and tell him, “Thank you for your concern, but I got this.” Putting a face to the negative thoughts, helps you see that you don’t have to become those things. This makes more room for the good stuff.
Some say, “Ask, and you shall receive,” but I say, think, and you will believe! Believe, and you shall receive. Believing is where the magic occurs. Choose your thoughts carefully folks, and in the words of Stuart Smalley, “I am good enough, I am smart enough, and doggone it people like me!”
Happy day everyone!
