The truth of the matter is that whatever we put our thoughts to will impact our emotions, our attitudes and our moods. Our thoughts alter how we perceive and treat both ourselves and others. These magical little musings of the mind have so much sway over the way we live our lives. It's nothing short of amazing! This is why it's so important to become aware of our thoughts. Thoughts like, "I'm not good enough," or "I'm afraid of stepping out of my comfort zone," are just some of the ways our thoughts hold us back. Always remember that you are what you think.
The Mind-Body Connection
Simply put, the mind-body connection is the thread that ties together our physical health, attitudes, behaviors and thoughts. Have you ever been so stressed that you got a headache, felt nauseous or just needed to lie down? Often, stress starts in our minds. We start analyzing and internalizing situations, and before we know it, we're consumed. Have you ever noticed how setting your face to the sun changes your mood? Or how rainy days make you a little less cheerful? It's a give and take between our thoughts and our bodies.
Science has shown that our thoughts are directly linked to our emotional and physical health. When our bodies accumulate too much cortisol and other hormones, there are consequences. Excess can lead to a weakened immune system, digestive issues and more. And just like stress, negative thought patterns cause us to feel badly about ourselves which can in turn lead to us harming ourselves. You may also find that dealing with health issues, relationship issues and more to be more difficult.
When the mind is in tune and open to the positive, overcoming the challenges in our lives seems a lot more manageable. We have more faith in our willpower, our ability to create solutions and our community when we keep positive thinking at the forefront. Now, this doesn't mean that everything will always come up roses and that there won't be challenges and negative things happening. It just means that we are taking control of our thoughts and choosing what to focus on and how to focus on it.
Changing Your Thought Patterns
Changing the way you think is a lot easier to say than to do. Thought patterns are like hard core habits, they don't go gently into the night. It takes work and practice to rewire the way we think. But becoming aware of our thoughts is a great first step. We have thousands upon thousands of thoughts everyday, both conscious and unconscious. Many of the subconscious thoughts are negative. That's why it's important to control the thoughts that you can. By making a habit of thinking positive thoughts, we can influence our subconscious thoughts.
Starting a mindfulness or meditation practice can be very helpful. Journaling is another way to become more aware of our thoughts. Purposefully choosing gratitude is great at accentuating the positive. If we make it a point to pay attention to what we're thinking, we can bring about a shift. No, every thought isn't going to be positive, but when you're aware of what you're thinking, you can reframe or banish any negative thoughts that come to your attention.
It's all about growth and taking control over your life and your thoughts. You have the power to be whoever you want to be. You are your greatest advocate and biggest fan. When you recognize just how wonderful and powerful you are, you can make the shift. You are who and what you think you are.
