It’s a new year - an opportunity many use to set goals for the future with the enthusiasm that the past is behind and we can look forward positively.
I have an alarm on my phone that goes off 4 times during the day. I have named it RESET. It’s a reminder to take a deep breath, remember who I am and whose I am and be grateful. A reminder to reset and remember - It will be ok.
It really will be ok. We often forget in the busy-ness of life. Even with (or should that be “especially with...”), working from home, lockdowns, the different pace of life and so much uncertainty, it is vital to regularly reset our thinking towards the positive, the good and the true. This is especially vital when we are under a lot of stress and pressure.
The problem with huge pressure is that it is so intense! It is all consuming and fraught with FEAR - faulty evidence appearing real. It dominates our thinking so we can barely concentrate on anything else. It batters us with the worse case scenarios and creates a negative mindset which is destructive to our mind and body. We feel like we need to be anxious and that it’s almost irresponsible not to dwell on the situation.
But this is a lie...
We can think about other things. And actually, when we do think about the good and when we think about the blessings we have and are grateful, there are positive neurotransmitters and endorphins that are released in our brain that will make it easier for us work through and find solutions to the problems we feel are so all consuming.
The best way to stop thinking negatively is to consciously replace our negative thoughts with good thoughts. The more you do this, the easier it gets because of the neuroplasticity of our brains - this is the brains ability to reorganise itself and form new connections and habits.
It is difficult to think about a green apple if I invite you to start thinking AND saying “white, fluffy dog”. The image in your head changes. THIS is how we replace negative thinking and images - think and say something positive.
We really can form the habit of thinking positively all the time.
In the meantime, maybe you need to remind yourself to do so with a RESET alarm on your phone.
Happy New Year. It’s going to be a fantastic year...