I Think

It is so easy for me to talk myself into not wanting to do outdoor activity in the winter. I did that yesterday by thinking it was too cold to go for a walk. Yes, it was snowing and blowing but I am amply equipped with all the gear I need to stay toasty warm. I suppose if it is minus 50 that would not be true but it wasn’t that cold yesterday.

This morning I put my warmest winter coat on with just my jammies underneath and my boots and gloves and headed outside and shoveled the driveway. It was snowing and blowing and cold but I was plenty warm.

I talked myself into venturing out this morning. I talked myself into staying inside yesterday. What I tell myself makes such a difference.

Our self-talk is powerful.

We can be our own best friend or worst enemy with the chatter that goes on in our heads.

We make choices every moment to have the thoughts that we think. We are not always aware however, that we do in fact make choices to think the thoughts we let swirl around in our minds.

Our thoughts can be so automatic and programmed that we fail to credit our very own selves with them. They are however ours. Whose else could they possibly be?

We can become more aware of our thoughts and the outcomes that result from the paths that we take in our thinking. An open, non-judgmental, curiosity will allow us to develop a mindful awareness of our thinking. It’s an opportunity to observe our minds in action and affords us the opportunity to make a choice about where our thoughts will lead us.

I can catch thoughts that aren’t so realistic— it’s too cold to go outside, and replace them with those that are more accurate—I do have plenty of layers of warm clothing to keep me from freezing.

There is power in recognizing I have this choice to make! Just like that little engine that could…I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I did it!

Where is your self-talk taking you today?