How do you turn the train of thoughts around?
How often did you get advice on how to turn self-criticism around? Have you also read a lot about it? Tried different methods? Well, I did, but this weekend I learned a new one and I’m loving it. So, I want to share it with you. It’s all about the train of thoughts. And literally take it as a train, because you are that train.
A train has a track and a direction. The train of thoughts has two possible directions. One direction is the direction of disappointment, in which you are not feeling good or making a mess. You may think everything is failing or worse you feel like you are a failure. And there is the other direction, the direction of ‘exhilaration’ in which things are going well and keep on going better. That is the direction you want to go, isn’t it? But how do you change direction?
Well, did you realise that usually when we are going in the direction of failure, we are the only one to blame? Because we are feeding the speed of the train with thoughts like “I’m a failure, I’m not enough.” The more you think like this, the faster the train is going.
You might think bravely I can do this and magically change direction and turn the train around. Forget it! I mean no train can turn around that fast. Neither can the train of thoughts. But how can we turn it around then. Well, it’s more a matter of when can we turn it around? The answer is: When it slows down first.
So how do you slow down your train of thoughts?
Let’s take ‘I’m a failure as example. You think I’m a failure, I’m a failure, I’m a failure. You can even hear the train going, can’t you? Now to slow down that train, soften what you tell yourself. Instead of I’m a failure, say ‘What I’ve done have failed’, that’s already softer. What is softer still ‘somethings I do, don’t have the outcome I expect,’ also nice and soft. The train is slowing down. Take one more step ‘When I started this action, it seemed like a really good idea’. There you go, with a few simple steps you’ve stopped the train.
Now to turn the train around is very easy. Tell yourself ‘What have I learned now so I can do it better?’ ‘What can do?’ ‘What can I try too?’ ‘I go further and beyond because I only learn if I try’. And there goes your train! Cool, isn’t it? This is how you change your train of thoughts.
Has this made you curious about which way you can change your thoughts, so you can change your life? I can help you change negative thoughts. Check these two coaching programmes:
• Setting yourself up for Success.
Book a free Success Strategy Call with me now.
Photo by Jakub Sisulak on Unsplash