Think and Become
Dear Aspen reader,
Do you think of yourself as young or old? Outgoing or quiet? Have you ever considered yourself to be clever, sensible or creative? I hope that when it comes to your thought life, you acknowledge yourself with the utmost respect. It’s so easy to mentally break down when our situations are less than favorable. And as I’ve said before, our words and thoughts act as a rudder to a ship. So thinking negatively, putting ourselves down or beating ourselves up does nothing to improve our mental, emotional or physical well being. Negative thinking can actually take its toll on our wellness, causing our minds and bodies to misalign with their natural state of health. Our bodies were designed to function in balance and peace. Thinking thoughts that are poor can actually damage our bodies!
It’s really simple. We become what we think about. Think good thoughts.
Have you ever struggled with thoughts that sound like:
I’m no athlete and can’t keep up with regular exercise.
I failed to maintain healthy eating, once again.
I’m too advanced in age to take on new endeavors.
Being a parent is more than I anticipated and I’m not sure how I’ll make it.
This career is not what I thought it would be. I’m failing.
When thoughts like this come your way, I want you to try and spin them around. While training your thought life is a bit of work, it will bring such vitality back to your situations if you choose to take control.
Try these steps:
Be aware of negative thoughts. Identify them and understand that they are unhelpful to maintaining wellness.
Separate the fact from falsehood. While the thought you are thinking may be partially correct, don’t let your mind wander and reel further into negativity. Separate the fact out of the statement (FACT: I’m no athlete) from the lie (LIE: I can’t keep up with regular exercise).
Add a “BUT”. Rephrase your thought to say “I’m no athlete BUT……” (I am capable of moving my body daily. I am healthy enough to do jumping jacks. I am strong enough to lift a few soup cans.)
Put it on repeat. No doubt, the same lie will try to surface over and over until you begin to believe that you are more than capable in your area of need. If you have to make the statement out loud - so your ears can hear the truth - do it! “ I’m no athlete but I am capable of calling a friend and inviting her to walk with me.”
Becoming what we think about is one of the most exciting transformations that we can take on. Apart from the physical changes we see when we eat healthier or exercise more frequently, mental strength is something valuable yet unseen. But just like any other form of wellness it must be maintained on a regular basis, so don’t give up!
In health,
Alecia