”If your world doesn’t allow you to dream, move to one where you can.” — Billy Idol
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go . . .” – Dr. Seuss
How are you today? Have you thought about it? Or, do you do what most of us do: get up, start doing the established patterns until you roll into bed again.
Longing to feel more, especially positive feelings, and a yearning to do those things tucked back into your mind you dreamed about are with us whether we acknowledge them or not. Not listening to ourselves creates conflict within. This conflict stays within to foment internal sadness and/or can bubble out to conflict in family. A typical accompanying step is the inner self-talk kicks up the negativity. This escalation enters a vicious cycle. Where do we jump off the merry-go-round?
It is crucial to gain your personal understanding of your self-talk. It is important to know that actions can redirect your thinking. It is vital to learn how this “cognitive” (rational) approach helps us to take control of our thinking and to manage the self-talk.
Probably you have heard the discussion as to whether our thoughts direct our actions, or our actions direct our thoughts. Over the last 20 years the research has pointed in the direction of actions. What we do changes how we think. Just think of a time you completed something after working hard and it turned out how you hoped. You also were given “pats-on-the-back” for your achievement. Can you remember your thoughts? There wasn’t negative self-talk! You felt accomplishment! You felt joy in your perseverance, skill, and hard work! You can become master of your thoughts.