Lofty Thoughts

By Dick O'Brien M.A.S.c

There is a quote by Benjamin Disraeli that says, "Fill your mind with lofty thoughts for you will never rise any higher than you think."

Add to that the quote by James Allen who says, "You are where your thoughts have taken you."

These two quotes often make me reflect on the thoughts that I am allowing to live in my mind.

Too often we over look the power of our thoughts to create our reality, both good and bad.

Your thoughts form your world.

What you focus on in your life grows.

What you think about expands and what you dwell on determines your destiny. You are the thinker of your own thoughts and the dreamer of your own dreams!

The lesson here. Change your thinking and you can change your life! When you are experiencing anxiety, anger, worry or fear, look to your own thoughts. They most likely are the source of a significant amount of your mental anguish, your loss of spirit, your personal demoralization and your loss of well-being, physical health, and personal stamina.

When you choose your thoughts you also choose the physiological, emotional, social and spiritual events that are associated with those thoughts.

Your physiology determines your energy and action level. If your internal dialogue is negative and self defeating than the physiology that simultaneously occurs will be just as negative.

Your depressed thoughts suppress energy and action. Your body will conform to that central computer message.

You are constantly mentally, behaviorally, physiologically, and spiritually programming yourself to go through life in a particular way.

In counselling I encourage people to become aware of their thinking and interrupt negative or self-defeating thoughts and replace them with more powerful affirming thoughts.

Here are ten of the most common replacements that people claim are most helpful in their lives.

These thoughts serve as wake up calls and allow people to refocus their attention in a difficult moment away from self-defeat and into resiliency.

1. You can start your day over at any time.
2. Know what's on your daily menu.
3. Know when you are losing it!
4. Control your mind and you control your life.
5. Look for inspiration and not motivation.
6. Be a student of your past, a curator of your present and the architect of your future.
7. Be the calm before, during, and after the storm.
8. Learn to light a candle rather than curse the darkness.
9. Know that well lived moments are the secret to a well-lived life.
10. Understand that you are not your past.

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