Are you bracing for the worst?
“Why do I have to ____?” “I don’t wanna ____.” “This is gonna suck.” When we go into something anticipating a negative experience, it usually doesn’t go well. We often only see things that confirm our expectations and prove that we’re right. We don’t even look for things that could be evidence to the contrary. […]
Is it time to try harder . . . or just give up?
It’s the time of year where a lot of people start to question their goals. (I may be a little early here. I feel like it’s usually 3 weeks into January that most people give up on their new year’s resolutions.) There’s definitely merit in questioning whether we need to try harder. If we’re distracted […]
Where limiting beliefs come from
I’ve noticed a simple pattern that has a complicated effect on our lives: Something happens. We make an assumption about what that event means – about ourselves, about others, about the world and how we fit within it. We live our lives as if that assumption is true. To put this into context, here’s an […]
Are you fighting for your limitations?
“It’s impossible.” “I can’t do it.” “This just isn’t going to work.” When we decide how something’s going to turn out before we even try, it’s a non-starter. We’re doomed before we even begin. But if we’re willing to consider the possibility that our mind has jumped to a conclusion that may or may not […]
3 ways to become more aware of your thinking
It’s amazing what can change when you become more aware of your thinking. The benefits seem boundless and are best understood through direct personal experience. To that end, here are three ways to become more aware of your thinking: 1) Journaling There’s something transformative about the power of the pen. By writing down thoughts, we […]
Is it possible to choose your thoughts?
In Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert writes, “You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be […]