So . . . how is your thought life? What do your thoughts look like? How do you “talk” to yourself throughout the day?
Several months ago, a friend of mine told me about a program she participated in by Mel Robbins. Melanie Robbins is an author, television host and motivational speaker who developed a 35-day program called “Mindset Reset”. I didn’t personally participate in this program, but my friend told me on the first day of the program her assignment was to write down everything she said to yourself for one day. I chuckled at first, but then, as I became more aware of how I spoke to myself for one day, I was shocked.
Friends . . . I wasn’t very nice to myself.
I’ve recently been on a new journey to re-train my thought life. To be brutally honest, I admit wrapping myself up in blankets of insecurities, and I duke it out with fear quite often. I’m a big chicken at heart!
Can you relate?
Changes can be made though. We can learn to speak a new language, training our thoughts to shift in a different direction. Let me explain what I mean.
We all know folks for which the glass is half-empty, and others for which the glass is half-full. Do you realize we choose how we process our thoughts? We can view things in completely different ways to mean entirely separate things. Here are some word-play examples of how to change your view of some common negative we all deal with:
- FAIL. Never give up if you fail. Instead, let f-a-i-l mean this: First Attempt in Learning
- END. The end of something doesn’t have to mean finality. Instead, look at e-n-d like this: Effort Never Dies
- NO. Turn this sometimes-dreaded word around. If you get “no” for an answer, shift your thinking of the letters n-o to this: New Opportunity (I love this!)
- FEAR. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said there are two ways to look at this word, the first of which tends to sit on my shoulder frequently, whispering in my ear. Do you know what it likes to say? Forget everything and run! (I’m just being real with you.) There’s a second way to look at this word though, this concept . . . this feeling, which I’m learning to embrace. F.E.A.R. can also mean, face everything and rise.
So, how do we rock our thought life?
Author Elizabeth Gilbert says this:
“You have to select your thoughts the same way you select your clothes in the morning.”
- Replace your negative words with positive words of hope and life, and surround yourself with uplifting, supportive people.
- Rather than dwelling on what isn’t going right in your life, focus on the ways God is blessing you and perhaps what He is showing you about your life.
- Safeguard your thoughts. Several things fight to influence our mind every day. Dismiss those negative thoughts and speak out loud against them!
In the Bible, the book of Romans 12:2 says this:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Today, I encourage you to recognize your ability to change your perspective and rock your thoughts. You can do it!
We can do it!
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.”
— Benjamin Disraeli
