THOUGHTFUL THOUGHTS

By: Lex Morgan

Thinking about what we think about is invaluable. Pausing to acknowledge who we are and WHO’S we are, how far we have come, the seemingly insurmountable obstacles we have overcome and how absolutely, positively, undeniably PHENOMENAL we are can serve as a guiding light as we navigate life’s valleys.

What if you cannot find anything to acknowledge yourself for? What if you try repeatedly and come up with no answers? Beautiful questions! A perfect opportunity to think again. Look at you. You have not given up on yourself. Up until this exact moment, you have beaten every odd that was stacked against you. Your triumph did not need to be perfect or pretty…but you did it! You are doing it! Maybe doing it means that you wake up and get out of bed. Maybe not. Maybe it means you give yourself permission to laugh. Or cry. Maybe it means that you ask for help when you typically would not. Maybe none of these examples apply to you, and that is ok. The point is you keep showing up. Everyday. In some way, you keep going. What have you done for yourself that you have not acknowledged? Which of your successes have you minimized some version of, “that’s no big deal!”? This is a perfect opportunity to pause and reflect. Yep, right now before reading further.

Welcome back! So, what did you come up with? How well are you doing with acknowledging yourself? Where can you improve? Many times, we neglect the act of thinking about what we are thinking about causing our thoughts go unchecked. Unchecked thoughts can be perilous, especially because we are the only thinker in our mind. Here is a note to remember, just because we think a thought (especially, a negative one) does not make it true! I will repeat that…just because we think a thought does not make it true! Our inner thoughts can certainly Photo by ought Catalog on Unsplash sound true. We can even come up with some powerful justifications for why those thoughts are true. It is critical to have a counterargument for those thoughts as they come up. Unchecked thoughts must be challenged. “Just because we think a thought (especially, a negative one) does not make it true!”

Here is a test to “truth-check” self-defeating and limiting thoughts/beliefs; Reach out to 5 people you trust and ask them to share 5 things that they admire, appreciate, honor, like, love, and value about you. Receiving the responses from people you trust makes it easier to believe what they share with you. Think about it, 25 truthful responses about how incredible you are…that is a gift that keeps on giving! The responses serve as support for you as you continue your journey of designing and, in some cases, re-designing your self-care practices. You also own the freedom to initiate the exercise whenever you need a fresh reminder about your greatness and/or powerful and truthful counterarguments for those pesky thoughts/beliefs when they come up. It is reassuring to know that you have the proper tool(s) for the challenge(s). Thank you for pressing into and embracing the beautiful creation that is YOU! You are honored and celebrated for your ferocious tenacity and perseverance! Take the next step. Take time to think.

“Just because we think a thought (especially, a negative one) does not make it true!”

Thank you for pressing into and embracing the beautiful creation that is YOU! You are honored and celebrated for your ferocious tenacity and perseverance! Take the next step. Take time to think.