“I think, therefore I am.”
-René Descartes*
The mind and the brain are two different things. Albeit, they are frequently used synonymously. However, the mind is composed of different states of mind; emotions, beliefs, attitudes and imagery. The brain is the physical hardware that runs the program, in turn, transforming your mind to a specific state. Today, we focus on our thoughts and how a physiological response can affect our lives. A few shifts in perception can really make a difference in your world.
The subconscious mind.
We are so much more than our conscious mind. In truth, almost everything that keeps us alive is subconscious. From your breathing to the beating of your heart, it’s all a deeply rooted mechanism in your mind. If you could train or take control of this mechanism, imagine what you could achieve. Your conscious thoughts are the tip of an iceberg, the rest is hidden under the water.
Your subconscious can create a temporary state of mind, or a feeling which is also called a “mood.”** There are three mental states believed to have a direct influence on your mood.
- Attitude
- Belief
- Perception
You have an attitude, meaning you are anticipating an event and your physicality is setting you up for it. This could be a positive event, causing you to have a bright disposition for what may be to come. Inversely, if you expect a tragedy, your body will act accordingly, releasing hormones and chemicals that would normally help is in a fight, but are actually causing unnecessary stress and anxiety. Your belief that this negative event will occur again encumbers you with negative thoughts and make you more susceptible. Your perception as to whether this is due to an outside force can cause you to blame the world, becoming a helpless victim. Positive thinking becomes an exceptionally valuable tool in this matter.
The cycles that make us.
Everything starts with a habit: a redundant set of emotions through repetition. This is an act that you have repeated so many times that your body knows how to do it better than your mind. When you wake up, you begin to habitually dwell in problems that your brain records from the past. By recalling these memories, you all of a sudden feel what you felt back then. Any problems and anxieties are being repeated over and over again, rather than moving on.
The habits that break us.
The cycles that lead to habits are exponentially more dangerous when they enter a refractory cycle. This cycle literally changes your personality. An emotion lasts a few minutes. When you hold on to an emotion, it turns into a mood. After weeks or months, being in a bad mood turns into having a temperament, such as bitterness. Without putting a check on habits and subconscious thoughts, this can quickly turn into your personality, or a temperament that lasts years.
EMOTION > MOOD > TEMPERAMENT > PERSONALITY
Breaking the habits.
Make an uncomfortable change.
Considering that our habits come with such ease that our bodies do it without permission from our conscious mind, nothing opposing them will be easy. Do not turn over in your bed and spend a couple of seconds wondering if you will be alone forever. Do not pick up that cigarette every morning before getting dressed. These small changes might be hard at first, but the resulting series of events can change your life as you know it. Spending time focusing on the power of positive outlooks can help reduce stress and reduce the negative emotions associated with these habits.
Recite positive affirmations.
Fortunately, affirmations are just as simple to practice as they are to explain. Essentially, they are positive statements used to defeat negative or harmful thoughts. They are designed to encourage an optimistic mindset. In itself, it is a powerful thing. In terms of reducing negative thoughts, affirmations have been shown to help with the tendency to linger on negative experiences.
Examples of positive affirmations: ***
- “I am ready, willing and happy to receive money.”
- “I am letting go of all negative beliefs I have about money.”
- “I accept my power.”
- “All areas of my life are abundant and filling.”
- “Every experience I have is perfect for my growth.”
- “I am worth loving. There is love all around me.”
Be proactive, don’t procrastinate!
The issues that linger become misery. Yet, they are easily avoidable! Take care of outstanding issues before they come up. Maintain a steady job to keep a healthy routine. Take care of your taxes before April, so Uncle Sam doesn’t knock at your door. Get life insurance so you don’t stay up at night, preoccupied about those you love. Basically, make that hard shift and do something different by being productive. We all have it in us. Sometimes, a little push in the right direction can make all the difference.
To conclude, if you find yourself depressed, hopeless or having negative thoughts, don’t lose hope. Through personal development, it is treatable. However, expecting to become an optimist overnight is futile. Positivity takes time and work. When your state of mind is generally optimistic, everyday stress becomes less of an obstacle. Use what you learned here in a constructive way. Tomorrow is a new day, make it a new you.
Sources:
*https://todayinsci.com/D/Descartes_Rene/DescartesRene-Quotations.htm
**https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_(psychology)
***http://www.thelawofattraction.com/positive-daily-affirmations/
