On thoughts…
Our inner world is a powerful force which very much dictates our experience of the world. Research conducted in 2020 found the average person has more than 60,000 thoughts per day. This clearly demonstrates just how busy our minds are. But are these thoughts serving you or holding you back, that’s the question.
Can you imagine a world where those 60,000 thoughts were generally positive and empowering? Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could live our lives through the lens of limitless possibility, of hope and joy for the future.
Unfortunately, most of us do not think this way at all. From being children we become conditioned by our life experiences and interactions with others. We form beliefs about ourselves within the subconscious mind which we may not even be aware of. A common belief I have found in my work is “I am not enough”. If you have a basic belief that you are not worthy then this directly impacts on the thoughts you will have. If someone pays you a complement, you don’t feel worthy of it so you brush it away. You may not feel you deserve to be happy or abundant in all areas of your life.
We also possess something called the negativity bias. Basically, we automatically give more weight to negative, fearful thoughts even if there is no concrete evidence of an immediate threat. This then leads to worry which in turn, speeds up the thought process and potentially leading to hysteria. Have you ever been in a situation where you know you are winding yourself up but are seemingly unable to stop? I certainly have, on countless occasions.
When thinking of this topic, I am taken back to a period of time where I experienced acute anxiety and regular panic attacks. I clearly recall the first panic attack, so convinced was I that a heart attack was imminent that I convinced my partner of the same. An ambulance was called and after some checks and a chat with the paramedics, I started to calm.
In the moments preceding this panic attack I had experienced what I now believe to have been an upset stomach which caused heart burn. But, this heart burn came in a sudden rush in my chest area. Being a highly sensitive person means I feel sensations and pain in the body more intensely than most. So, I told myself I was having a heart attack, my mind was frantic and everything I said to myself increased the intensity of the panic in my body. I basically talked myself up into a frenzy. I learned that what we say to ourselves becomes our reality.
By the same token, if you can talk yourself up, you can talk yourself down. The mind believes whatever you tell it, whether its true or not. I eventually overcame anxiety and panic attacks by consciously telling myself it is fine, the panic can’t hurt me, welcoming it in on the basis that I am not scared of it anymore. I made a choice to think differently and although it was far from easy, over time it did work and it has been a few years now since my last panic attack.
What I know to be true is that you have a choice in how you see any situation. Sometimes it’s harder than others that’s for sure but it is possible with repetition and persistence. When you are worried and scared it can feel safer in that place as you feel like you are protecting yourself and that’s important. But, are those thoughts serving you and making any difference to the situation (aside from making you feel bad)?.
I love this line by Mike Dooley who said “Thoughts become things. Choose only the good ones”. I consciously try to live by this in my daily life and you can too.
Please let me know your thoughts in the comments and share this with anyone you may feel will benefit.
Nic xoxo