You Want to Control Your Thoughts
But Is It Possible?
The majority of your thoughts are not under your control. So, no, you’re probably never going to be able to control your thoughts. Yikes! You might be thinking, I thought this was supposed to be a 1-Minute Motivation? Well . . .
I think this knowledge is actually very empowering — the knowledge that at least 90% of your thoughts (depending on which study you reference) come from your subconscious or unconscious mind. Meaning that, you cannot control your thoughts.
But, here’s the empowering part! You can control the thought that follows the thought you can’t control. Um…okay…that’s confusing!
Fair enough. So, maybe we need to change our language to put this point in context a bit. Let’s replace the words “control your thoughts” with “redirect your thoughts.”
You can redirect the thought that follows the thought you can’t control. Does that make more sense?
Perhaps, but a few examples couldn’t hurt, so let’s look at some.
- When you think, “I’m so busy,” redirect your next thought to be, “I’m so productive.”
You may be amazed at what a difference simply changing your language can make. But you’re doing more than that. I dare say that you have taken control of your thoughts. Because you have . . .
Acknowledged your sub/unconscious thought — I’m so busy — and you’ve taken action (even though it’s a small one) by redirecting it. These two simple steps will set the groundwork for assessing your situation.
In this example, you will naturally begin to question what you just told yourself — Am I really being productive? How could I be more productive? What would be a better use of my time? How can I manage my time differently? Are my to-dos really as urgent as I think they are? Etc. . .
What you’re really doing is calling BS on yourself. You’re assessing whether your redirected thought — I’m so productive — is actually true, and, if it’s not, you’re thinking about the actions you could take to make it become truth. Why? Because you felt good when you had that thought, didn’t you?
Now that’s empowering!
Ready for a couple more examples? Keep scrolling.
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Two More Examples of
Redirecting Your Initial Thoughts
- When you think, “I’m so tired,” redirect your next thought to be, “What does my body need right now?“ You feel tired for a reason. Maybe you need to eat — need water — need to take a break — need to work on a better bedtime routine. Whatever it is, you’ve acknowledged the feeling — being tired — and redirecting your thought will put you back in control of the situation.
- When you think, “I’m so stressed,” redirect your next thought to be, “I’m putting too much pressure on myself.” Then, assess the situation, and figure out where this pressure is coming from. Are you creating problems where there are none? Have you set a deadline in your head that no one else is holding you to? Are you trying to control an outcome that you simply have no control over?
Any examples you’d add? Any initial thoughts that could be redirected into an empowering next thought? Let me know in the comments or shoot me an email. I’d love to add them to this post!
If you’re looking for more personal development inspiration and support, you might enjoy these full-length posts:
If you’re feeling busy: Are You Staying Busy to Avoid Your Life?
If you’re feeling tired: How to Energize Yourself Before Taking That Leap of Faith
If you’re feeling stressed: Why Learning to Trust Your Intuition Will Set You Free
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or would like me to point you in the direction of more tools you can use on your personal development journey. Here’s my email: amanda@theexpectationgaps.com.
Click here for more posts with an “intentional living” theme.
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And until next time . . . have an EMPOWERING day!
SCREENSHOT TIME!
Take a screenshot for a quick reminder of how to redirect these 3 thoughts:
- I’m so busy — becomes — I’m so productive.
- I’m so tired — becomes — What does my body need right now?
- I’m so stressed — becomes — I’m putting too much pressure on myself.
HOW THE EXPECTATION GAPS WORKS
YOU'RE HERE
You have a knot in your stomach telling you that something is missing from your life, but you don’t know what it is. On the surface, you have everything you could ever want. Yet . . .
You’re frustrated…overwhelmed…”crazy busy”…burned out…unfulfilled…
I'VE BEEN THERE!
That’s why I’ve been focused on living with intention and becoming a Deliberate Thinker for ~ 10 years.
I want to help you with your journey by sharing mine.
PIN IT!