Are you starting your day with positive thoughts or negative ones?
I want you to really think about this because it can make SUCH a difference in how the rest of your day flows. If you're trying to think about where you stand in this, let me give you some examples in case it helps ring a bell.
When we start our day with negative thoughts (trash talk), they tend to be pessimistic, judgmental, lack concrete evidence, they create stress and are very self- critical. They can also promote insecurity, anxiousness and/or unhappiness. Phew, that's a lot to handle first thing in the morning! It's no wonder so many of us walk around on defense mode, feel overwhelmed, unappreciated and unfulfilled. Good news/bad news - if you find yourself to be a trash talker, you're in the vast majority.
Why are these first thoughts so important in how the rest of the day goes? Big picture: because a trash thought can create a trash emotion, which creates a trash action which can ultimately lead to a trash day. Unfortunately for most of us, trash talk tends to be automatic. It can stem from past experiences and influences so it's not as easy as simply telling yourself not to do it.
Think of your brain as your house for a minute. It stores all of our experiences, emotions and feelings and some of us might even be hoarders...
You wouldn't want to live a in a house with trash all over the floor though, would you? You would feel the need to clean it up! So, that's what we want to do with our trash thoughts. We need a way to begin our day on a positive note. But, Ali - didn't you just say these thoughts can be automatic for some of us? Yes, but that doesn't mean we can't learn the tools to change them in the moment.
Next week, I'll go into more detail on how to change your trash to clean. But first, I want you to start paying attention to your first thoughts of the day. Are they trashy?
In the meantime, I don't want to leave you hanging without giving you something to use in the next 7 days! It's called "rephrasing." For example, let's say your first conscious thought is "I'm so behind today." You might think saying the opposite would be beneficial (i.e. "I've got it all together!"). But surprisingly, that's not actually helpful because your brain knows better! Instead, try saying something like "I'm going to catch up the best I can today." It's positive thinking and you're not trying to trick yourself.
I hope that helps:) Stay tuned for Part 2 next week!
Ali Naglee
Certified Holistic Health Coach
Ali Naglee Wellness
www.alinagleewellness.com
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