“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Most of my work requires driving to different locations. It’s very easy to get lost so I depend on my GPS a lot! The area that I’m expected to cover for work is very big, and most of it is really country – lots of trees, lakes and undeveloped land. Very beautiful but directionally challenging at times.
If I input the wrong address, the GPS will take me to the wrong place. I’ve had several encounters where I make a simple mistake of following the GPS’ suggestion and arrive at an empty lot. This is usually after an hour or so of driving! My GPS confidently announces “arrived!” and I’m in the middle of nowhere!!
It’s no different with our mind. We only get out what we put in. And not only do we have to guard what goes into our minds, we must constantly be on the defensive to ward off the wrong thoughts.
“Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life. Don’t use your mouth to tell lies; don’t ever say things that are not true. Keep your eyes focused on what is right, and look straight ahead to what is good. Be careful what you do, and always do what is right. Don’t turn off the road of goodness; keep away from evil paths.” – The Bible
Our thoughts precede our actions. We think. We say. We do.
Your brain has a negative bias, but your mind can teach it to be more positive. Three mistakes that we make regularly: overestimating threats, underestimating opportunities and underestimating resources.
Confront the negativity bias:
“Be mindful of the degree to which your brain is wired to make you afraid, wired so that you walk around with an ongoing trickle of anxiety (a flood for some) to keep you on alert. And wired to zero in on any apparent bad news in a larger stream of information (e.g., fixing on a casual aside from a family member or co-worker), to tune out or de-emphasize reassuring good news, and to keep thinking about the one thing that was negative in a day in which a hundred small things happened, ninety-nine of which were neutral or positive. (And, to be sure, also be mindful of any tendency you might have toward rose-colored glasses or putting that ostrich head in the sand.) Additionally, be mindful of the forces around you that beat the drum of alarm.”♦
“Thinking” is the way you talk to yourself. No one knows exactly what the mind is or how your brain creates it, but your mind is a wild thing and will run where it will. Noticing your mental habits and activities (fantasies, stories, and ideas) is the first step toward calming or changing your mind. Develop an observing self and monitor your actions.
“Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give everyone a smile. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.” – Norman Vincent Peale
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To Your Success,
Althea
Althea A. McLeish Wilson, RN, MSN
Promoting inner health & outer beauty!
Helping you thrive, not just survive!!
PS. Inner Health & Outer Beauty Store: Health & Wellness with Althea♦
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