Taking Charge of Your Thoughts
By Sandy Thibault
There is no question about it, the busyness of our lives today have taken center stage. How many people are trying to balance work, kids, volunteer commitments, as well as keeping groceries in the house and a clean clothes in the closet? We have not even added to that the stress of how we live our lives with the stress that comes from the uncertainty in our world today.
It is easy to feel overwhelmed with everything that has to be done, cared for, decided upon or watched over. Sometimes we can even feel like a victim of our own circumstances; a never ending cycle that keeps repeating itself despite our best efforts to change it. As this cycle continues it often begins to feel like there is no hope of breaking it, which chips away at our spirits and does not allow the best of ourselves to come out. So the question becomes, how do you begin to break this cycle?
As with any change in your life, the most critical part depends on how much you want the change to occur. It will take a conscious thought and effort to create the life you desire rather than to be at the mercy of your circumstances. There are many ways to help facilitate this change but I believe the most important one is to pay attention to your thoughts. Every action or feeling first comes about from a thought. That is why it is so important to pay attention to our thoughts as they can help us create the life we want to live. I have often said that before you can hold it in your hand you have to be able to see it in your head. When we think negatively about something that is what we create and the same is true when we have affirming and positive thoughts that is what is created. One way to do that is by making an inquiry into the bothersome thought. Here are some questions you might helpful:
v Will these thoughts move me closer to what I want or farther away?
v Are these thoughts giving me energy or taking it away?
v Am I stepping up or shrinking back?
v Are these thoughts empowering me?
v Is this a thought that conveys self love?
v Is this thought coming from a place of fear?
The purpose of these questions is to provide insight and understanding into your thoughts and why you have them. Be gentle and kind with yourself as you make this inquiry and be surprised at the opportunity it provides for change.
Sandy Thibault is a Life Coach and Director at InnerLight Healing Center. The following tips are part of the InnerLIght Wellness Series. The next class from this series is called, Transforming Thoughts and will be Saturday, April 18th 9:00 – 11:00 AM For more information on this class or about our center visit www.counselingandhealing.com
