Wake Up to the Power of Your Thoughts

As coach, Michael Neill, writes in his book Super Coach, "We live in a world of thought, not circumstances. The mind works like a projector, not a camera, which is to say we experience what we think, not some kind of 'objective reality'".

If this is the case, it makes sense then for us to take note of our thoughts. Our thoughts are powerful. They shape us and affect our emotions and behaviours. If I have a recurring thought that I never stick to my fitness goals, then the chances are I will talk myself out of that run or pilates class quite easily, "See this is so me. I never see it through". Thus reinforcing that habitual thought, that I never stick to goals.

When things don't feel good in our lives, we often look outside of ourselves to make things better - a new car, job, dress, relationship. We expend energy and money trying to alter our reality, when what we often need to do is go inward, to our thoughts. We all have habitual thoughts, "I'm always tired", "I can't lose weight", "I'll never meet someone", insert your own. These thoughts have been around so long, that we never question them, and the chances are they aren't even true; just faulty, familiar beliefs. Our brains like familiarity and they want to keep us safe. If I have the thought, "I can't share my idea at the staff meeting. I'll embarrass myself in front of my colleagues", chances are I will keep my ideas to myself and my colleagues won't get to know my good ideas or see my full potential. The trouble with believing our limiting thoughts is we remain stuck. Yes, we might be 'safe' in familiarity, but our hopes, dreams and future joys are denied us.

Don't despair. You are not powerless. If thoughts are projections, like Michael Neill believes, then surely you are the projectionist. You can take ownership of your thoughts. Think of a giant movie screen at the cinema. Depending upon what reel of film the projectionist inserts into the projector - be it a murder mystery, a romantic comedy, a horror or adventure- this plays out on the big screen and determines the emotions and reactions of the audience. Well, you get to project what you want to experience in your own life by the thoughts you think and choose to believe.

Begin to notice your thoughts. Chances are many, if not all, of them are limiting and negative. They feel true, but in actuality they're not. If life is experienced through our thinking, then is this really how you want to be living your life? Those same old thoughts are providing you with the same old emotions and behaviours. It is time to change the script. Take ownership of your thoughts and your mindset and choose differently. It might feel weird at first to think a new thought; one you want to be true about you: "I am dedicated and consistent with my fitness goals", "Things work out for my highest good", "I attract kind, loving and respectful relationships", "I am confident sharing my ideas at work", but the more you do it; the more intentional you are about this, the easier it gets.

This isn't toxic positivity by any means. Life does have hard parts, and it's only right that we experience a range of emotions and acknowledge our feelings around life events, but what we don't want to do is linger over irrational thoughts about ourselves and our lives that are keeping us feeling low and unable to experience joy and pleasure in life.

If you want to be more intentional in how you live your life and how you want to be moving forward then try this: grab a journal (I'm a huge fan of writing things down), and take some time to really think about how you would like to be in your life. Write down what you would like to believe about yourself- "I am successful", "I am loving and attract love", "I am healthy and strong", and how you will feel if you believe these thoughts - happy, free, proud, joyful. Finally write down how you will behave if these things are true about you. If you are successful, how are you showing up at work? With family, friends? If you are healthy and strong are you working out? Do you walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator? Do you choose the vegetable stir fry rather than the pizza?

It's February. Often by this time in the year, folks have abandoned the goals they set for themselves at the start of January. That's okay. There is no time like the present to start working on your mindset and intentions, and I believe it starts with your thinking. So do yourself a big favour and make this year different by choosing better thoughts.

We will end as we started with wise words from coach Michael Neill:

"What makes our thoughts appear to be so powerful is that the more we invest our

attention in them the more 'real' they start to feel...when we deliberately orient our

thoughts toward the positive, we enjoy our lives more".