Contributor: Wild Divine

"You can't solve a problem with the same mind
that created it" - Dr. Wayne Dyer

How often have you found yourself in the same old thinking that gets you no where? Your life feels like constant turmoil. You want to join the neighborhood gym, but the $30.00 per month membership means you will have to scrimp somewhere else in your budget like the Mega Channel Cable TV package you have. Maybe you are limiting your "You Time" to a daily shower and wonder why you feel stressed all the time. You want to change jobs but there is just no place that's a perfect fit for you, so you stay stuck where you are.

We have read and heard that change begins with within ourself, and it's true. Researchers say that we have about 60,000 thoughts swirling around in our heads each and every day. Many of those thoughts are negative coming from our egos, from fear or from past experiences. Your Aunt Lilly said you would never be able to support yourself as an interior decorator. With a thought like that recycling in your brain, guess what – you will never be able to support yourself as an interior decorator. Sure, this is just an example, but put your own dream occupation in place of interior decorator. Are you able to make changes in your life and move in the direction of your dreams? Or, have you been unable to move towards that dream because of thoughts like your ego saying it's a lot of work and you will be a failure or maybe you're afraid that others will think you are not good enough. Or, maybe you think Aunt Lilly was right. You have the power to change all this.

When you change the thoughts that you carry around with you, you can change your life. Your thoughts are creating your life. Think of yourself as a magnet. If you believe your job is lousy, it's lousy. If you believe that your relationships are awesome, they are awesome. If you believe that you are stuck in a life situation, you are stuck. If you believe that you are loved, you are loved. These are truths based on the law of quantum physics and the law of attraction.

You can change your thinking. You do not need to let negative thoughts control your life. Like any good habit, it just takes some time and practice. You need to exercise your mental muscles. Read a book, play a game or attend a class that will work your mental muscles to know you have the ability to change your thinking. For example, here is an exercise for you - take a moment to "hear" the thoughts in your head before responding. Are they positive thoughts that will move you forward as a loving individual, or are they negative thoughts that will hold you, and the people around you, back from reaching their full potential? For example, your co-worker Bob has just asked you once again to cover for his shift. Your usual response is to just say "yes" without thinking. You never say "No". You just want to please him and get over any conflict. After the fact how do you feel? Do you really want to work for Bob? How did that feel?

Now stop for a moment before you respond to Bob's request. This is your practice leading to good habits. Ask yourself when was the last time you said "No" to someone, anyone? Why can't you say "No"? Are you always a compromiser to keep everyone happy except yourself? Think of what is best for you right now. Is it best to help Bob out again, or is it best to help yourself out by not working his shift and following your own plans even if it was to have dinner with yourself. Now practice in your thoughts saying "No" to Bob. How do you feel? Empowered? If Bob would not take it well, that is not your fault and you cannot take it personally. If you said "yes" would it be for the right reasons? Perhaps you could use the extra money and Bob knew that. In either case, there is no wrong answer and whatever answer you give, you give from love for yourself and Bob. Now, how did that feel?

Here is another example, when you give a gift are there always conditions and expectations or are you giving only from love? Are you a classic underachiever, or the victim or always expecting the worse to happen? Guess what, that is what will happen until you stop to hear your thoughts before you respond to others. Determine where your thoughts are coming from and change them to respond only from love and in spirit.

Next, practice looking at other people from love. When we focus on another person's negative traits, our thoughts are judgmental. There is no way for us to know that other person unless we live in a science fiction movie and can literally jump into their head. The only way we truly know that person is through our own thoughts. If you only see the negative side of a person, then that is the relationship that exists between you. However, if you change your thoughts to focus on the positive – the love – in another individual you have changed that relationship just by changing your mind.

See how simple this can be? This year, don't just change your diet. Change your thinking and you can join that gym, move to a different job and say "No" when you need to. It just takes practice to create new habits. Practice changing your thoughts and you can change your life.

Shift

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Joyce Kinde is co-creator of Shift Circles. Shift Circle workshops are a unique tool using the board game Shift helping people recognize what is holding them back from reaching their full potential and how a shift in thinking will shift their lives. Shift Circle Workshops are being used by corporations and organizations to promote wellbeing and focus for their employees leading to better business practices. To learn more about Shift and the location of Community Shift Circles go to www.ShiftTheGame.com, or order online at the Wild Divine Store.