Direct Your Thoughts

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“A man is what he thinks all day long” Ralph Waldo Emerson

The stress we put ourselves through is largely self-induced. We allow our brains to run rampant because we believe we can’t control them. The challenge is when the stressful thought comes into our mind, we dwell on it. When we dwell on it, it builds into something more significant. To quote Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank, “Stop the madness.”

If you don’t play tennis and aren’t particularly good at the game, but decide you want to get better, you would probably work with a pro who would train you on the proper techniques required to play. Each day as you practice, you would be reinforcing the technique. You are simply teaching your mind and body to learn this new task. Given enough repetition, you would become a good tennis player.

I am here to tell you that you have the ability to direct your mind. There are techniques, which if practiced daily, will improve your ability to direct your thoughts. Just as practicing helps create the skills needed to play tennis well, repetition will also help you exert more control over your thoughts.

If a thought enters your mind that doesn’t serve you, redirect it. You do this through a concept called cognitive reframing. Begin by rising above the chatter in your mind and just observing the thoughts as they come in. When the unpleasant thought comes, notice it, then remind yourself that you have the power to direct your thoughts. Next, refocus your mind on something that pleases you. Every time you repeat this simple exercise, you are training your brain. The more you practice, the better you get. I would suggest trying this each day. The moment you feel the negative thought, become the observer of the thought and redirect it.

Find a way to quiet your mind. Identify an activity that gets you out of your inner dialogue. It should be something that brings you into the moment. For some, it’s yoga. It could be running, gardening, skiing, or sitting quietly, closing your eyes, and observing your breath. Think of it as a mental vacation that can help recalibrate your mind. When your computer is not performing as it should, it usually helps to reboot. Make it a point to use a mind quieting activity as a way to reboot your brain every day.

Eliminate negative influences-things like the news, negative people and violent TV. Exposure to negativity gets your mind focused on things that weigh on you. If you can surround yourself with positive people and engage in positive media content, it will help you to maintain a positive mindset which goes a long way to ensuring your ability to direct your mind.

Focus on what you want not what you don’t. See yourself where you want to be. Remember you have the ability to direct your mind. With some practice and discipline, you can dramatically improve the quality of your life.