Imagine for a moment someone who has really wronged you. Start to think about what he or she has done, and how unfair it is that it happened. Really focus on that person and the hurt in your life because of what he or she did. Are you starting to feel angry yet? Now put that aside and think about something nice someone has done for you. Focus on that person’s generosity and kindness and how it makes you feel. Has the anger lifted and is a smile starting to come to your face?
The power of our thoughts to change our feelings is amazing. I am not here to sell you the power of positive thinking, but the focus of our minds does affect our emotions. We all laughed at Stuart Smalley on Saturday Night Live when he stood in front of the mirror and recited his mantra “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it people like me”, but he had a point. Telling ourselves good things does make us feel better. Thoughts lead to feelings which lead to actions, which is why by controlling our thoughts we can ultimately manage our feelings and our actions.
Take the Two-Week Thought Challenge
If you want to see if changing your thoughts will make you feel happier than take this two week thought challenge outlined below. The steps are simple, but they can be life changing.
1) First rate how good you feel about yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 and write it down where you will find it in two weeks.
2) Spend one day writing down what you’re telling yourself. Set yourself reminders throughout the day to tune into your thoughts and jot them down in a notebook. You will probably be surprised to see how critical you are of yourself.
3) Next find good things to tell yourself to counteract the critical thoughts. These can come from famous quotes, books, or even good things you tell others, whatever is most meaningful to you.
4) Now write those good things down on note cards or sticky notes and place them where you will see them. Make sure you move them around so you don't get too used to seeing them in one place.
5) Make a conscious effort throughout the next two weeks to be aware of your thoughts, to stop the negative thoughts you tell yourself and replace them with the good things you wrote down.
6) At the end of the two weeks rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 on how good you feel about yourself. Most likely you will see that your score has improved just by changing what goes on in your head.
Remember you are learning something new and and it may feel awkward at first and you may not “believe” all the good things you tell yourself, but it will become more natural. It takes time to retrain your brain to become your own cheerleader, but you can do it and the benefit will be worth it in the end.
Taking the Two-Week Thought Challenge or have a question? Click on my profile and send me an e-mail.
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