Many personal development experts state that the reality that we’re living in today is largely a result of our past thoughts and behaviors.
Do you believe that?
Does your general attitude and situations in life correlate with past thoughts and behavior? Do you become what you think?
The jury is out on just how much of our thoughts and actions correlate with our current reality. After all, even the happiest, most peaceful people in life experience challenging circumstances, loss, and genuine struggle.
However, exploring the correlation of our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, and actions against our current life situation may not be a bad idea.
- If you find yourself happy and peaceful most of the time, why is this?
- If you’re not thrilled with your life in various areas, why do you think that is?
Perhaps it’s time to do a little digging into your thought life to see if the types of thoughts you’re thinking are influencing your current reality.
If you lean toward the negative side, perhaps it’s time to free yourself from negativity little by little. Maybe today you can boldly declare it as the first day of the rest of your awesome life.
Do you know what you want in your life? Read this next: What Do You Really Want Out of Life?
Today, we’re looking at 5 ways you can begin to free your mind from negative thoughts, beliefs, or patterns.
- Commit to a newer, more positive mindset and do a little experimenting.
- See if a higher mindset actually changes your outer world.
- Take the next weeks or months to really make a solid commitment to changing your inner landscape and see if it impacts your outer landscape.
- You may even want to journal daily to track your journey.
1. Un-Clutter Your Mind
Your thoughts have a great deal to do with your attitude and behavior, as your thoughts affect beliefs and beliefs affect behavior.
In order to free your mind and create a better life, it’s important to gauge your thought life and see where your mind has been going.
Do a bit of meditation to declutter your mind. Take time to just sit in silence and observe the kinds of thoughts running in your mind.
- Are you more of a positive or negative person?
- Do you tend to think fearful, doubtful, and negative thoughts or happy, confident, and positive thoughts?
If you’re not sure, ask those closest to you if they consider you more of a positive or negative person. Sometimes our loved ones can see more about us than we can.
Do your best to eliminate negative influences in your life like thoughts, stories, and maybe even some people. If you’re a pessimist and don’t want to be – start taking little steps toward a more hopeful, positive outlook and do the necessary inner healing work to make the change.
2. Change Your Story
If you’re not happy with the story you’re telling people, then it’s time to tell a one.
“The biggest influence on human behavior is the story we tell ourselves in our head. If you change your story you change our world.” – Chris Agnos, Founder of Sustainable Human
If you’re not happy in your job, relationship, financial state, etc. then it’s time to admit it and take the necessary steps to change what needs changing. Contrary to what you may believe, you’re not stuck where you are.
If you feel stuck, it’s only because you’re telling the same old story over and over, but at any time you can create a new story. You can take full responsibility for your life from this day forward and change the script.
Even if it feels hard to start thinking and speaking a more positive way, do it anyway. Do whatever it takes to just start thinking and speaking positivity, rather than dwelling on the negative.
3. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway
Sure, it can be fearful to think about change. It’s scary to think about changing jobs, lovers, location, etc.
Sometimes people get comfortable in their fears and shy away from creativity, risk, adventure, and change. The problem with this is that it leads to apathy, boredom, frustration, and stifles the spirit.
You’re not bound by your past. You don’t have to continue on the same mediocre path. You don’t have to beat yourself up about past decisions or setbacks. Dare to embrace fear and dream a new dream.
“Feel the fear and do it anyway.” – Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
That’s called courage. Allow courage to rise within you and declare that you’re going to make some changes for the better in your life. You won’t settle for status quo any longer!
You’re going to draw a line in the sand and not allow negative thoughts or negative people to cross it. You’re going to get serious about change!
4. Challenge Your Beliefs
Have you been prone to believe that this is as good as life gets?
- That your current job or financial status is the best you’re going to experience?
- That mediocrity is fine?
Perhaps you can challenge such beliefs.
Successful, peaceful and happy people don’t settle for what is easy or what is comfortable. They also don’t let the past keep them from changing things up in the future.
Challenge your beliefs. Get honest with yourself.
- Are you settling?
- Are you afraid?
- Do you allow self-defeating beliefs to prevail?
If so, today is your day to break free from all negativity and doubt and declare a new life! Declare that you’re going to begin telling a new story.
5. Create a Plan
Your first step is to take some time to think about where you are and where you want to go.
Get motivated. Write down a list of your goals.
- What do you want?
- More money?
- A career you actually like?
- More freedom?
- A new partner?
- Friends?
- Start your own business?
Write it all down. Then make a plan as to how you will work your way toward the manifestation of your goals.
Create an action plan. Want a new career? Begin researching careers. If you want more money, create a budget, follow it, get a new or second job, etc.
Are you looking for a new relationship? Begin dating again. Goals are great, but without action you won’t get very far.
Free Your Mind: Life Can Change
Wherever you are right now and no matter what your past has been like, things can change.
Life can change.
You can change.
Your attitude and environment can change.
Don’t allow self-defeating beliefs to hold you back any longer. Free your mind, create a new story and begin taking steps toward your new goals. You can experience more peace and joy along your journey.
And, it’s what you deserve.
Updated from Apr 23, 2023
Photo by MEHMET AYTEMİZ
