When you learn how to control your mind, you open a door to the vastness of creativity, inspiration, and brilliance that is just behind the clutter of your thoughts. Unknown
Two years ago I was a person filled with more than my fair share of fear: How was I going to start the firm I was looking for? How was I going to move the negative out and fill it with positive? Was I enjoying life? I wanted to jump, to change — but I was stuck. Scared. I let my thoughts control me.
One thing I know for sure: Our beautiful minds can be our worst enemy.
This week I met someone with schizophrenia. She hears voices and is constantly distracted by them. Her mother says that she’s trapped in her mind – like being in a cult. Heartbreaking.
We all get trapped in our minds. It’s not always negative but sometimes it’s incredibly limiting. There are the constant interruptions when we’re working on a problem. The worries. I (am I the only one?) replay conversations and interactions. We think about the past and worry about the future. Simply put, our mind games are destructive and impact our results and our success.
To some extent we’re addicted to our negative thoughts and we obsess about s*** we can’t control. Yet, there’s control in what we know – even if it’s negative. Thus, we stick with it.
Today was my official last day of “help” and here’s what I learned:
- Interrupt your thoughts. Once we believe that we can interrupt any of our thoughts or behaviors then our mind can become our best asset.
- Identify the thinking. Circular thinking traps us on a treadmill, draining our energy and happiness. The longer you’re on the treadmill, the more ingrained that pattern becomes. Identify the thought and gently say “stop.” My words were, “I’m ok.”
- Learn new thoughts. Our minds abhor a vacuum, so you can’t rid yourself of negative thinking without filling the void. Otherwise, the same negative thinking will creep back in. There are two ways to fill the void: (a) put a positive in instead of the negative; and (b) believe the positive.
- You are your thoughts. The only truth to our thoughts are the truths we give our thoughts.
- There are no shortcuts. There’s no other way to move on other than to let go and move on. It’s painful. It’s scary. Sometimes we need help. But remember: there are no wrong decisions, only decisions that take us to our next place.
So, on this one I’m calling it a wrap. It’s one in the win column for me and my mind. We’re (mostly) working together now.
Look, we’re all going to over think, over analyze and waste a lot of time inside our brain. The trick is to minimize those limiting thoughts and change them so they help, not hinder you.
Because those thoughts that are holding you back … well, they really are created by you. 🙂
XOXO
theyearsafter50 