A case of “Stinking Thinking”?
Did you know that humans on average have more than 6,000 thoughts a day? This happens both consciously and subconsciously whether we are awake or asleep. If you were to take stock of your thoughts and rated them on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 having primarily thoughts that weigh you down such as fear, shame, or judgment, and 10 primarily having thoughts that are uplifting and make you feel unstoppable, where would you rate yourself on that scale?
If your answer was on the lower end of the scale, you might be experiencing a case of “stinking thinking”; focusing on problems and expecting negative outcomes. Over time these toxic thoughts can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression. As humans, we all have negative thoughts creeping into our minds daily. However, how well we manage to focus on the positives differentiates our attitude and how we show up in this world regularly. It even impacts our happiness and success in life.
Our thoughts create our emotions, and our emotions determine our actions and inactions. Repetitive thoughts become our beliefs and shape the way we experience life. They become the lenses through which we view things and label them as “good” or “bad”. Those lenses or beliefs can become so strong that even when we are presented with evidence of the opposite, we completely dismiss it. For example, if you think of yourself as not smart enough because you do not have an advanced degree, you will constantly look for evidence of that thought, i.e., this is the reason you are not being promoted and you might dismiss or downplay knowledge and success you may have had in other areas of your life, such as in music, art, or athletics.
The problem is that most unhappy people who desire change and transformation will look for fixes externally. Believe that a higher job title, a fancier car, or a bigger house can compensate for their inner void, but unless you start by changing your thoughts and challenging your beliefs those fixes are temporary at best.
Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “A thought, even a possibility, can shatter and transform us.” Changing your thought patterns to new beliefs that better serve you requires the desire for change, an open mind, and much learning and relearning. Transformations are not easy. I know, because I have been through so many of them: living in a foreign country, climbing the corporate ladder, marriage, and divorce, etc.
If you are facing a transformative experience in your life, I would love the opportunity to chat with you. I created my signature coaching program, SOAR (the acronym stands for the four phases SEEK, OUTLINE, AWAKE, and RELEARN), a step-by-step blueprint to help professionals through the toughest transformations. Examining your thoughts and choosing those of a higher vibration that results in feelings of compassion, peace, joy, and absolute passion is a big part of SOAR.
Are you ready to ditch your stinking thinking and to SOAR with me? Contact me at angela@belladonnacareercoach.com to schedule a free discovery call.