"I am not good enough to go for my dream job. I will just be rejected."
"That person will never be attracted to me. I'm not good looking enough."
"I can't join a gym yet. I'm not fit enough."
Do these negative thoughts sound familiar?
Automatic negative thinking gets the best of us, but when it becomes a habit and spirals out of control, it can not only impact our confidence but also our entire life trajectory.
Many of us live in these distorted thinking paradigms without even realizing it, and we get stuck!
So, how do we start bringing these limiting self-beliefs into the daylight and stop subconsciously believing these destructive thought patterns?
Have you ever stopped to consider that these negative thought patterns are simply "the stories we tell ourselves"?
Often, there is no truth to them, and we create stories as a defense mechanism to keep us safe. But here's the thing—
What if there is no real threat looming?
What if we have validated unfounded feelings because we initially felt unsafe?
Once we start to see the truth behind these stories, we can change the entire shape of our lives!
Remember the wise words of Henry Ford:
"Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."
Think about it. The power of belief is immense!
So, how do we start recognizing this negative internal dialogue?
Have you tried journaling and keeping track of these thoughts?
Did you know that psychologists believe we have as many as 60,000 thoughts per day—and a staggering 90% of these thoughts are repetitive!
Stop for a moment and let that sink in. (Long pause for reflection)
We are constantly bombarded by repetitive thoughts that often do not serve us. Isn't it time to create a change?
Imagine if we took those repetitive thoughts and transformed them into a tally chart. Wouldn't it save us mental energy and create an organized structure?
Once we notice the recurring thoughts, can we not reverse and reframe them?
Consider this: If your negative internal thought is,
"When I'm successful, they will see how valuable I am,"
Why not reframe it to something empowering like,
"I am perfect, whole, and complete just as I am"?
Can you feel the shift in perspective? (Stop to reflect)
Abraham Hicks talks about manifesting not only through the thoughts we think but also the emotions we attach to them.
So, let's infuse a positive emotion into these new empowering thoughts. Imagine the power and sustainability it can bring!
And here's a fascinating scientific fact: By taking a moment to focus on a positive emotion, we not only build a foundation for safety and certainty, but we also release dopamine into the brain—the positivity hormone.
This dopamine helps regulate our mood, enhances sleep, appetite, digestion, learning ability, and memory. Isn't that incredible?
So, in addition to reframing old thought paradigms, we can also become happier, healthier human beings. We can break free from the chains of negativity and create a positive, fulfilling life.
Ask yourself, how do these negative thought patterns impact your life? Are you content with the status quo, or do you yearn for something more? How do you want to feel after doing the work? Can you imagine the positive changes that await you?
Remember, the power of our thoughts is EVERYTHING!
As Shakespeare once said,
"Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
It's time to take control over our thoughts, dismantle the stories we've created out of fear and conditioning, and reframe the old patterns of thinking into ones of lasting positivity.
So, what are you waiting for?
Let's embark on this transformative journey today! Embrace the power within you and unleash a brighter future.