creating the day you want

You might be worried about the amount of work you have to do today or be feeling anxious about a meeting or project that is coming up. These feelings are familiar to us all and can often start as soon as we wake up in the morning.

All in the Mind

Yet the feelings you have originate from your thoughts. You couldn’t be anxious about something unless you had first formed some kind of judgment about it. If you have a phone call to make and you are not looking forward to it - you have already begun to judge the situation, the other person or yourself. Perhaps you feel the other person wouldn’t be responsive enough or perhaps you are worried that you won’t be at your best.

These thoughts can create a downward spiral effect;- the more we focus on these thoughts the more worried we become and soon we feel unmotivated or low in energy.

To stop this spiral effect we must change the thought. If the thought is "I haven’t got enough time", change it to "I choose to have all the time I need". The challenge is to change the thought even if the new thought doesn’t seem true or possible at the time. By doing this you immediately create the possibility for this to be happen.

Susan Jeffers, the author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, has a great catch all saying that she repeats to herself daily. "No matter what happens I can handle it".

Stay in the Here and Now

Anxiety is seldom associated with the present moment or the here and now. Our worries are normally set in the future and rooted in the past. A past experience that caused you to judge or criticise yourself can go on to create anticipation about the future. This projected thought, which often turns into fear, creates anxiety about something that may never happen. As Mark Twain said, "I have been through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened".

Another great way to break free from this downward spiral of emotions is to first become aware of what you are thinking. Become a silent observer of your own thought process, simply stand back and watch your thoughts without judgment.

If you start your working day with low energy check your thoughts, what are your thoughts about the day ahead? What are you anxious about and why? Are you sure it will take place? As soon as we make these unconscious thoughts conscious they start to loose their hold over us.

Leave The Past Where It Belongs

Remember that the past doesn't dictate the future. Very often we can let the past restrict our thinking or prevent us from moving forward with ease. When we want to enjoy our working day and be successful it is sometimes useful to step out of our past experiences and create a better future in the present moment.

By doing this we free our thinking, we allow ourselves to be creative and we stretch our previous boundaries and limiting beliefs about what we are capable of achieving.

Consider this Principle

The past does not dictate our future.

Action Points

1. You can’t be anxious about something unless you have first formed a negative judgment about it.

2. This judgment can cause your emotions to spiral downwards.

3. To reverse this spiral effect, stop and become aware of your thoughts.

4. Identify what judgment you have made of yourself, a situation or another person.

5. Then declare the opposite to be true in your mind – even if it seems unbelievable at this point!

6. Hold this new thought and allow your positive energy to build back up.

7. Remember also that your fears belong to an imagined future and your regrets belong to the past. Spending more time living in the present can free you from both.

Quote

"Nothing is good nor bad but thinking makes it so."” – Shakespeare

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