Words express our thoughts. Thoughts shape our feelings. Feelings influence our perceptions. Perception becomes our truth.
alan
alan
We all respond to the world in different ways, we have a particular mindset, attitude and response to what life presents.
The simplistic duality of whether you are a glass half-full or a glass half-empty person lacks a degree of subtlety and texture as well as implying something that is fixed.
If you are looking to make changes in your life, then there is the need to honour the fact that you can break away from past 'programming' and 'limiting beliefs'.
The following may help you engage in breaking away from your past stories.
1) LOOK carefully at the words you use.
Words like can't, must, should, ought are words of limitation. They hint at experiences in the past where your dreams and ambitions may not have been given the support they needed. Meanwhile the 'command' words (must, should, ought) suggest that some behaviour is being demanded rather than encouraged.
The magic word 'yet' will help you break away from 'can't' ...
"I can't do that ... YET' implies a possibility and may well encourage the empowering question 'HOW could I do it?'
In terms of the 'command words' question the source of the command.
Who is saying you 'must'. 'should', 'ought'?
Are these your words, or do they come from your past; the control of a parent or ex-partner?
Try using 'could', 'might' or 'may' words which imply a choice rather than an order.
2) REVIEW your self-talk
How do you talk to yourself?
Would you talk to others in the way you spoke to yourself?
Our self-talk is often the ever present commentator on our experiences.
It can be the voice of doubt as well as the voice of encouragement. The point is to give yourself a GOOD talking to.
For every doubting, limiting thought find two positive counter thoughts.
3) ACKNOWLEDGE your feelings
Which comes first the thought or the feeling?
This is an interesting question for self-reflection. Do you have an internal sensation (feeling) and recognise it before you 'name' it or do you 'name' it before you 'feel' it.
Finding an unequivocal answer is not the point, the question is the point.
Research as shown that writing your thoughts, feelings down is better than simply talking about them. Getting them 'out' of your head is better than burying them.
4) ATTENTION is driven by unconscious processes
Where we place our attention is not always within our conscious control, in fact it could be argued that it is 'rarely' within our conscious control unless we practice certain forms of meditation or mindfulness.
Changing our underlying 'filters' for attention can actually change the way we perceive the world. This is not as difficult as it sounds, but it does require the ability to challenge your thinking about situations and people.
Stoic philosophy suggests that an event is just an event - it is the individual that gives it meaning or value.
So reflect upon where your attention is directed and how events are given meaning by your mind (the thoughts and feelings).
5) TRUTH is personally defined
If you can accept the idea that 'truth' is a set of beliefs and perceptions, then you may come to realise that truth is not fixed. It is a moveable quality based upon opinion, belief and perceptions.
Think of 'truth' as an 'idea' - it can be easy to change an idea through learning, reflection and research.
Which of your 'truths' are actually beliefs?
The great thing about beliefs is that you can, if you choose, question where they came from and how they serve you.
Alan
The simplistic duality of whether you are a glass half-full or a glass half-empty person lacks a degree of subtlety and texture as well as implying something that is fixed.
If you are looking to make changes in your life, then there is the need to honour the fact that you can break away from past 'programming' and 'limiting beliefs'.
The following may help you engage in breaking away from your past stories.
1) LOOK carefully at the words you use.
Words like can't, must, should, ought are words of limitation. They hint at experiences in the past where your dreams and ambitions may not have been given the support they needed. Meanwhile the 'command' words (must, should, ought) suggest that some behaviour is being demanded rather than encouraged.
The magic word 'yet' will help you break away from 'can't' ...
"I can't do that ... YET' implies a possibility and may well encourage the empowering question 'HOW could I do it?'
In terms of the 'command words' question the source of the command.
Who is saying you 'must'. 'should', 'ought'?
Are these your words, or do they come from your past; the control of a parent or ex-partner?
Try using 'could', 'might' or 'may' words which imply a choice rather than an order.
2) REVIEW your self-talk
How do you talk to yourself?
Would you talk to others in the way you spoke to yourself?
Our self-talk is often the ever present commentator on our experiences.
It can be the voice of doubt as well as the voice of encouragement. The point is to give yourself a GOOD talking to.
For every doubting, limiting thought find two positive counter thoughts.
3) ACKNOWLEDGE your feelings
Which comes first the thought or the feeling?
This is an interesting question for self-reflection. Do you have an internal sensation (feeling) and recognise it before you 'name' it or do you 'name' it before you 'feel' it.
Finding an unequivocal answer is not the point, the question is the point.
Research as shown that writing your thoughts, feelings down is better than simply talking about them. Getting them 'out' of your head is better than burying them.
4) ATTENTION is driven by unconscious processes
Where we place our attention is not always within our conscious control, in fact it could be argued that it is 'rarely' within our conscious control unless we practice certain forms of meditation or mindfulness.
Changing our underlying 'filters' for attention can actually change the way we perceive the world. This is not as difficult as it sounds, but it does require the ability to challenge your thinking about situations and people.
Stoic philosophy suggests that an event is just an event - it is the individual that gives it meaning or value.
So reflect upon where your attention is directed and how events are given meaning by your mind (the thoughts and feelings).
5) TRUTH is personally defined
If you can accept the idea that 'truth' is a set of beliefs and perceptions, then you may come to realise that truth is not fixed. It is a moveable quality based upon opinion, belief and perceptions.
Think of 'truth' as an 'idea' - it can be easy to change an idea through learning, reflection and research.
Which of your 'truths' are actually beliefs?
The great thing about beliefs is that you can, if you choose, question where they came from and how they serve you.
Alan
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