Change Your Life by Changing Your Thoughts

You want to change your life. Most of us do to some degree or another, but we also feel at a disadvantage in one way or another. We try. We do the best we can to improve our lot, but still struggle to bring the desired results. Happiness evades us.

We know about exercise and nutrition to support a happier, healthier life style, but if we want to incorporate real wellness into our lives, we need to harness the power of our minds. In Wayne Dyer’s now famous words, “change your thoughts, change your life”. But, how do we do this? Here are some strategies that can help you to harness the power of your mind.

ACCEPT SUPPORT

First and foremost, you don’t have to go it alone. Too many people believe they have to figure life out on their own. This, however, is often not possible, as we can’t fix our detrimental thoughts with unhealthy thought patterns. It’s why we’re still going around in circles. A trained professional can provide an objective perspective and provide us with tools to unravel our confusion.

Take the leap and and dig deep into the resources available. Find a counselor, therapist, guide, mentor who is willing to provide the support needed to break free from thought patterns that are keeping you locked in misery.  There’s a handy guide on https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/colorado/fort-collins/ that can help get you started.

SET YOUR MOOD FOR THE DAY

The moment you wake up, even before you open your eyes, you can begin to set the stage for the type of day you will have. Often, we fall into negative thought patterns, perhaps ones from the previous days. Suddenly, regrets about the past and anxiety about what’s ahead start going around in our minds in earnest. The second you become aware of this negative thought pattern, stop it. The best way to do this is to either a) get out of bed and get busy getting ready for your day, and/or, b) start listing what you are grateful for.

To change your life, you must begin by changing single moments, single thoughts. Each time you break a negative thought pattern you are moving yourself and your life to a better place.  Reflecting on the things you are grateful for can create a more positive mindset for your entire day.  When you wake up in the morning, your brain is more open to these changes and thinking positive thoughts have more potency. Here is a resource https://guardian.ng/life/manifest-positive-thoughts-the-self-help-guide/ that offers more insight on how to change your life.

TURN OFF EXTERNAL NOISE

We are all available to the entire world 24/7. If you are letting your phone build up a barrier between you and the people you care about, it’s time to set boundaries for yourself. When you start to set boundaries, you are starting to commit to the present. Rather than be distracted by interruptions you can start to invest in yourself. When we get distracted by other people’s status updates, it does nothing for us.

CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH VISUALIZATION

The subconscious mind accepts thoughts we repeat. If we’re repeating negative thoughts hour after hour, day after day, we will begin to see these negative patterns in our lives. The opposite is also true. When we change our thoughts to more positive ones, it will have an impact on your actions and ultimately our life.  Visualization is a powerful tool for breaking up negative thought patterns and retraining our brains in a more positive direction.

Begin by taking a few moments to think about something that brings you joy, something you love to do. A creative endeavor of some sort is a powerful place to begin. For example, you may be finding your home a dreary place to be. We’ve been stuck inside our homes from the pandemic far more than is comfortable for most of us. Pick a room you spend a lot of time in, close your eyes and begin to imagine if you have all the time and money in the world what would you like that room to look like? Just let the ideas flow. Remember the sky is the limit.

Next, you might want to start collecting pictures of these ideas. Pin them on a Pinterest board and dream on, because you’re on the path to a happier, more fulfilling life and you haven’t done a thing.

CALM YOUR MIND

Another way to reduce incessant mind chatter, and internal dialogues that are not positive, is to calm the body and settle the mind. Meditation is a powerful practice that not only brings peace of mind but numerous other benefits as well. Again, learning to meditate by ourselves is next to impossible. Fortunately, there are infinite resources online that will walk you through the process.  Yoga Nidra meditations is one such resource.

We all have the power to change our thoughts and change our life, we just don’t know how to harness this power. But, we can learn. Remember your mind is your greatest tool. If you want to change your life the best way to do it is to change your mind.