As you know by now, a big part of my approach to work is about healing the voices within that keep us from showing up at our best.
So when I got tagged (more on that in a second) for Peter’s “Think Different” challenge, it was a no-brainer; the idea, basically, is to try thinking differently about something in your life that you’ve been holding as a negative… start thinking positively about it, and see what happens.
(The “tagging” debacle? I was told by Tristan Loo of the Synergy Institute that he tagged me, but he actually tagged a different Adam (he has since added me to his tagged list, though!). I sorta put it out of my mind, but then Jennifer Mannion of Heal Pain Naturally tagged me from her post… so that’s when I figured the Universe was trying to tell me something!)
As the wind bloweth
Now, thinking differently about something you’re holding as a negative is good… and, in my experience, it can be like trying to keep a paper cup on a picnic table in a wind storm. You can try to keep your thoughts in the positive, but if you’ve got a strong wind — belief systems, in this case — that keep on blowing the same way they have been, then you can try all you want to keep that cup on the table, but it isn’t going to happen.
If you want to keep your thoughts positive, you’ve got to make your belief (which generates your thoughts) positive first.
Example:
If you look outside your window, see grey skies, and think, “Bummer weather,” that’s just a thought created by a belief that says, “grey skies = bad.” You can try to think positively about your day, but as long as you have it worked up in your mind that “grey = bad,” you’ve got an uphill battle on your hands.
But if you look outside your window, see grey skies, and think, “Woo hoo!”, then you’ve obviously got a belief system that says, “grey skies = good.” Thinking positively, then, becomes automatic.
So, back to the challenge…
Right now, the bulk of my time and energy is being spent working on the Internal Success course. And as excited as I am about it, and even as the project cascades into so much more than it was when I started, I still have doubts now and again.
(Doubts = thoughts = the evil brainchild of negative beliefs.)
I’d love to think differently about them, so rather than just try to reorient my thoughts, I put the Internal Success teachings into action. Within two minutes, my thoughts went from scarcity-based thoughts, “No one will want it, there are already tons of programs out there…”, to, “There are millions of people out there who need it… this could be huge. There’s no shortage at all. Make it, offer it, be open and invite people to it. Be positive!”
And the great thing is, it was totally sincere. When I try to “overwrite” my thoughts, there’s always this nagging voice underneath it all, saying, “Oh, come on… you can try to affirm otherwise, but you know it’s not really like that.”
But with the negative beliefs cleared out of my system, those old connections just aren’t there anymore. There’s no tide I’m trying to hold back; my beliefs are naturally generating positive, abundant thoughts.
As a (wo)man thinketh
It’s true (to borrow the phrase from James Allen): As you thinketh, so you are. Changing your thoughts is a sure-fire way to impact the quality of your life (no big revelation here). But if you want to have more success at it than trying to keep a paper cup steady in a wind storm, don’t stop with your thoughts alone; clear the beliefs you have that are keeping your thoughts headed down the wrong paths, and you’ll be much better off.
Want a podcast of this? Click here.
And thanks to all those who commented on the previous post so far: Tim Warneka, Elena, Mark McCullagh, Shafie
Adam,
I recall a quote from the movies -The Secret- by one of the commentators that also reinforces this concept: “Energy flows where attention goes.”
A brief story: During my move across town this week (formerly: moving = bad, grumblings, more bad),I decided to keep focused on the positive end result of all those heavy loads: Being in our new home and the incredibly positive feelings that would accompany the final load. Each load was then a stepping stone that brought me closer to the final outcome. (moving = getting closer to wonderfullness)
I’m writing this sitting in new home and it’s simply wonderful.
Monk I loved thinking about the blowing cup. You inspired me to ask myself. How do I change the unwanted beliefs behind my thoughts? One way that often seems to work is action. I first consider and declare out loud the belief that I’d rather hold. Then I can ask. What action would prove that I have this new belief? When I trust myself enough to take that action, all is well.
Thanks Monk, your posts are always stimulating and inspiring.
Adam, why did I think you were Australian?
LOVE the podcast idea – much more ‘me’ – hurrah.
Have you uploaded to iTunes?
Adele
Hi Adam,
Thanks so much for participating… yes sounds like the Universe made the request clear. A GREAT post and I certainly wish you tons of luck and enjoyment out of your Internal Success Course. I just read your e-book today on Silencing Overwhelm and I REALLY enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. Thanks again! Gratefully, Jenny
hey adam–
i just was talking to someone before reading your article. she said that sometimes when we change from a negative to a positive thought about something, there can be a lot of resistance because a part of us may feel we need to admit we were “wrong” before. so, it’s a catch 22 and we don’t want to look at it positively because we’ll be “wrong” from before.
another thing that can get in our way is that the negative pattern has become a habit – and habits by nature repeat themselves almost automatically -so there again, you’re going against the grain.
your approach offers a breath of fresh air – for example, you looked at your internal success program as the unique and phenomenal offering that so many can benefit from (which is the absolute truth in my opinion!) – and whammo! – no habits to break and you were never wrong about where you were coming from before as it’s just a new vision you’ve got.
the timing of talking to my friend and reading your article were simply amazing.
when you combine your approach with action as Tom mentioned, it’s a slam dunk to feeling better and sharing your gift with others.
great job, as usual, adam. . . and happy healthy thanksgiving to you and your family.
Adam,
The person who comes up with an effective way to abolish self-limiting beliefs permanently will indeed have a powerful and valuable system on their hands. I’ll look forward to hearing more about the system that you are developing.
For me, the first step is in recognizing those self-limiting beliefs in the first place. As Char pointed out, they often become habits, and habits are so “normal” that we sometimes don’t recognize them as being as destructive as they are.
Great stuff, Adam – looking forward to more info on the Internal Success Course!
Great image of the cup in the wind, Adam. It made me realize how I think/look at things. When I have negative self-talk my automatic reaction isn’t to replace the words, it’s to slow down my breathing and connect with my center while I mentally make a big X across the screen of my mind. The X is immediately replaced by an arrow pointing to the right, where the future is represented in my visual scheme. So, I’ve cleared the negative thoughts and am ready to replace them with a more powerful image. Often it’s an image of myself as a flame, connected to an infinite supply of oil/candle wax/source of fuel. The reaction of other people isn’t my concern. My job is simply to radiate the light. The process is quick, and it works for me.
Brilliant stuff Adam, I think anyone who has given positive thinking an effort will see the truth in it. changing your thoughts is like changing a tree one leaf at a time, there are faster ways to do it.
Thoughts are so important to a happy life that everyone needs to bring more awareness on how to handle them. This article is a great step towards doing just that.
Thanks,
karl
Hello Adam,
Funny how things go. Here I am reading your article about thinking differently and I just did a similar exercise on the abundance/scarcity issue. I had a lot of fun in the process and “discovered” (for me) a new way of looking at the issue. Thinking differently first requires that you unglue yourself from old ways of thinking. One way to do that is to look at the extreme example and work from there. This has the benefit of breaking your normal thought patterns, and allowing a new creative pathway to be opened up.
Thanks for the really interesting article.
Nick
I read your article twice. Really great comparison about paper cup and wind. I totally agree that firstly I have to change my belief system and then positive minds will come automatically. Thank you Adam for helping me to change my negative mind.
adam -
i read your most recent aricle about individuality and really resonated with it. the point you made about how we abandon ourselves because we’re “different” rather than embrace those differences as being innovative and creative sources was especially well made.
hope you’re doing well and i hope i’ve posted in the right place.
Thanks everyone… sorry I haven’t been around for a back-and-forth conversation as much as I usually am; I’m spending every waking moment (the ones at work, anyway) focused on getting the Internal Success Course completed, and it’s a big project.
I am reading all of your comments, though!
A couple of quick thoughts…
Barry, congrats on your move!
Adele, maybe you had me confused with Adam Gordon (he’s in Darwin). And no, I haven’t done the iTunes thing yet, but it is on the list…
Jenny, Char, Tom, Aaron, Albert, Jean, Karl, Nick, Saulius… glad you’re enjoying it all!