I happened to catch the Today Show this morning when a psychologist and Glamour Magazine editor were commenting on a startling report which found that women have on average 13 brutally negative thoughts a day about their bodies. That’s about one every waking hour. Some had as much as 100. (Here is the link to the show to find out more: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/41669051/ns/today-today_health/)
Then the psychologist repeated this saying that has become common in her field, “Neurons that fire together wire together.” In other words, thoughts that we have repeatedly throughout the day about ourselves determines how our brain gets wired around our self-concept and, by extension, everything else we perceive. She suggested that all those hateful thoughts about our body become a habit that keeps us trapped into general low self-esteem and powerlessness.
Well…I’m wondering what would happen if we had 13 positive thoughts about ourselves combined with grateful thoughts about our lives every day? If the axiom holds true that “Neurons that fire together wire together”, then these thoughts will work together to wire our brains around naturally self-loving, life-loving concepts that produce high self-esteem and self-empowerment. That’s my theory.
There’s only one way to find out. And because this is the Gratitude Experiment, let’s experiment with this idea: try for this for a few weeks and report back with your results. So, in conjunction with your regular practice of proactive gratitude, try consciously noticing what you like about your body, your talents, your brain, your abilities, the way you show up in the world, etc. See if you can notice just one thing an hour. Or, concentrate these thoughts and notice 6 or 7 things all at once, two times a day…whatever is easiest for you. But do this consistently. Then, let me know how it goes for you.
I know from my own practice and from working with others that the things we say to ourselves outloud or thinking will either limit and block our ability to live a full healthy life OR support and enhance every effort we make to have The Best Life we have never imagined. The more we change our point of view and look at things from the supportive angle, the happier, more open and unlimited our lives become. Those challenging thoughts and remarks continue to keep us locked in a place where we are fearful of things that do not even exist.
If I had not believed I would become a published author and told myself and others that I was capable of becoming that, my first book would not be on sale in bookstores right now. But I had to CHOOSE to not dwell on areas that might be considered “lacking” and go forward with 100% commitment that I had everything I needed to accomplish that goal and never let those limiting thoughts happen MORE THAN ONCE. I may have those thoughts, but I only aloow that to come across my mind once, then I immediately say out loud, “Uh, no I am not that at all, I am The Best me I can be, so there!”
Here is a link to a blog I wrote about an easy trick you can use to stop yourself from thinking thoughts that won’t seem to leave your mind.
http://wp.me/pRZov-T
I am looking forward to following the response to this blog as I am writing my second book all about how every word we use attracts similar energy to us whether we are conscious of it or not. This experiment will be perfect to include!
:)(:AmberLena:)(: