The journey (a.k.a. your life) will have many twists and turns. Discipline the mind to stay on track.
Discipline is the card I picked this month and I think it is very appropriate considering what we are facing. With so many distractions coming at us regarding the current state of affairs, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, negative and/or hopeless right now.
What if I told you these feelings are in response to thoughts and beliefs your mind created, but none of it is true.
"What Traci?!! "...I can hear you asking right now...“I really do feel this way, it’s true for me!” Yes, I believe you do feel that way and it is your current reality. What I’m challenging is that it’s the only reality. Reality is based on perception, so therefore one can argue that there is no reality, only your perception of reality.
Case in point, I used to be a springboard diver in high school. One night at practice, one of the divers kept starting and stopping her walk down the board. She was holding up the line, so I gently reminded her she needed to do the dive or get off the board so others could practice. She started crying and said all she could think about and replay in her head was hitting the board. She then asked me if I worried about hitting the board; to which I responded, “No, I don’t envision hitting the board. I envision all the things I’m supposed to do so that I don’t hit the board”!
I never did hit the board. Sadly, she eventually did and quit diving because she was too scared after that. One could argue that where you put your focus, your reality will follow. This is an example of how our minds, if left undisciplined and unchecked, can run away with us and create a lot of unnecessary suffering.
The formula below illustrates a behavior chain. This chain provides a breakdown of her thought process verses mine. We both witnessed the same triggering event; watching another diver hit the board at practice one night.
Her Thought Process
My Thought Process
We create behavior chains subconsciously, and then believe it is our only reality. We can break free of behavior chains by adjusting our perception of a situation.
To free yourself of behavior chains and become better at disciplining your mind, practice this exercise.
Think of an event that triggers you.
Write down your thought process. What does your brain tell you about this situation that you believe to be true?
Describe the actions you engage in that support this thought.
What is the end result? Are you happy or unhappy? Suffering or Relieved?
Now, go back and explore how you can change or reframe your thought process. This may feel uncomfortable at first, but it is worth it. Explore what could you tell yourself that is different from what you usually say? Then think of actions you could take to support this new thought and how these new thoughts and actions can lead to new results. Below is an illustration of this exercise around the trigger of losing a job.
Remember, in order to create a better reality, you must first learn to discipline your mind and that requires you to become the observer of how your own mind works.
Life moves quickly and it is easy to become distracted. Disciplining the mind and body involves learning to recognize when you have lost your way, and then refocusing the mind to take positive and productive actions. When thoughts are positive, we are energized and this results in productive action. Learn to be an objective observer of your thoughts. When you feel you have lost your way, observe how your thoughts follow a path of negative thinking. This drains your energy. Learn to acknowledge and recognize these negative feelings as part of the process of learning self-discipline. You have the power to create great things, and to create you must train and discipline the mind as you would the body if training for a marathon. Remember, always take situations that appear negative and turn them into a positive. The value of the situation will be instantly recognized!
Dedicated to raising your consciousness!
Traci
