Positive vs negative thoughts

There is a voice inside your head that is constantly “on”, chattering away, talking to you. This voice has a personality, a world view, tendencies, inclinations, and biases. This chatterbox can be your best friend or your worst enemy, your choice. After all, this voice is you! The talk going on inside your head springs from some combo of your unconscious, your past experiences and role models, your fears and dreams. 

You CAN get control of this voice, use it and direct it. At first, you may have trouble directing the thoughts that come to mind but it always your choice about the thoughts that STAY in your mind. This voice can be your greatest cheerleader, your finest coach, your best friend or it can be your worst enemy, your biggest critic, an energy vampire, a slayer of dreams.

To gain control of your inner voice, first decide what you want, who you want to be, what type of person you want to grow toward being. Then write yourself short scripts that support this enhanced view of yourself, focus on the positive, on where you want to go. Negatives, if any, should be in terms of the “past” or of “releasing”: “I release all thoughts that hurt” or “That was yesterday, today is a new day and I am free to make new, better, more powerful decisions” or “My tendency does not have to be my destiny”. “I am a child of the Universe. There is great potential within me; I will develop it fully through intense focus and hard work.”

Observe your inner voice; it’s choice of topics and tone. If it heads off into “stinking thinking” use your scripts or positive affirmations to redirect your inner voice. It takes time and effort but if you persist, you will find no greater ally. (“Learned Optimism” and “Unlimited Power” and “Awaken the Giant Within” are all powerful sources of techniques on personal change.)

Closing Quotes:

“You are not responsible for the programing you picked up as a child. However, as an adult, you are 100% responsible for keeping it.” – Ken Keyes, Jr., 1921 – 1995, author, Living Love

“Habits of thinking need not be forever.  One of the most significant findings in psychology in the last 20 years is that individuals can choose the way they think.” – Martin P. Seligman; “Learned Optimism”

“Most people carry a large amount of unnecessary baggage. They limit themselves through grievances, regret, hostility, guilt; an accumulation of old emotional pain called the ‘pain body’.” – Eckhart Tolle

“You can never succeed in realizing your highest dreams and ambitions if you do not strive for them with all the force of your personality.” – John R. Silber, Boston University 1996 commencement speech, 1926-2012

As always, I share what I most want/need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier