have you ever really listened to the
constant stories you tell yourself?
do they help propel you forward,
or do they merely hold you back?
sometimes the stories in our minds
don’t allow us to be the strong
creative individuals we know we can be
sometimes what we say to ourselves
both limits and traps us
negative self-talk
self-defeating beliefs
obsessive thoughts
all can seriously sabotage one’s life
when you begin the process of reconnecting
with your authentic and original voice
one critical question tends to emerge
are the thoughts and beliefs you’ve
held for so long even your own?
it may be time (more likely past time)
to start examining the stories you’ve
been carrying around with you
(maybe for a lifetime)
we’ve all noticed how a dog
trotting in the same place on the lawn
every week, every day
creates a rutted path over time
when you think the same thoughts
over and over and over
it creates a similar groove
a neural pathway in your brain
it’s there, it’s handy, and you
(and the dog) keep returning to it
but just as the dog can always choose
to go another way, you too can choose
to think a new thought
to fire up new neurons
to establish a different route
today listen carefully to the words
that automatically pop into your head or
sail out of your mouth, and ask yourself
have i really thought this through?
am i jumping to conclusions?
am i just repeating what i’ve been told?
is there anything more productive
that i could be thinking or saying?
if possible, answer these questions out loud
sometimes the simple act of doing so creates
additional clarity, courage, and strength
if you hear anything like “must”
or “ought” or “should” or “need to”
stop, breathe, and consciously remove
these words from your programmed brain
replace them with words like “can”
or “may” or “it’s okay to” or “want to”
and begin thinking or speaking again
rephrasing these statements reminds you that
you have power, that you’re the one in charge
of your thoughts, in charge of your life
retain your individual voice
own your unique expression
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