Thinking – how often do you stop to think about how you think??? Confusing question for some but as a kinesiologist I am constantly thinking about how other people are making their decisions and looking at their actions based on the way they think. Many people think we have no control over our thoughts but what if I told you that isn’t true. You have control over the thoughts you have, you can change your brain to think more positively and you can change your brain to react in positive ways. Here are some tips to help you to consider how your mind works and to create more wellness in your thoughts.
When I take the train into the city, every time I go over the Harbour Bridge I take that time to look out on the amazing city I call home. I think about how much I cherish and love my life. I think about how grateful I am for that exact moment crossing the Harbour Bridge. While everyone else is looking at their phones or staring out into space, I am loving the sun, the harbour and the magical buildings which make Sydney iconic. So how often do you find this connection? Is it daily or weekly? Or never at all? Gratitude is a massive buzz word at the moment but its importance is seen in research. It has been proven that finding gratitude in everyday life changes the way the brain works. It automatically makes it more positive, releasing more happy and calming hormones.
Tip #1 – Take a moment out of your day, consider how great life is, consider what changes you may want to make, consider how these changes are possible. This moment could be while you are enjoying your morning coffee or tea or as you are about to go to sleep.
Another aspect to my work as a kinesiologist is the ability to help my clients name their emotions. Again the research is showing that by naming how we are feeling, the brain can stop focusing on that feeling because we know what it is. When we are left in the unknown the imagination takes over, making the problem significantly worse as the brain desperately tries to work out what this thing is. Simply by naming an emotion, whether it be anger, fear, sadness, guilt, remorse, disgust, grief, uncertainty, or even happy, joyous, loved, secure, we allow the whole body to change its reaction.
Tip #2 – if you have a beating heart, or tightness in your chest, or butterflies in your stomach, take note of this sensation, see what emotion you are actually feeling and then take note on what happens with the sensation as it is likely to slowly disappear.
Another way the brain is very imaginative is when we think the worst thing will happen such as not getting a job, not getting a certain grade in a test, not making a sports team, asking someone out and them not wanting to go out with you. But what if this isn’t the end of the story, what would happen if you actually thought about what would happen after this event. You might apply for a better job and get it, you might study harder and get a better grade, you may make the team next year and make more friends, or you may not have spent time dating one person and the right person walks into your life. By no means am I saying the emotions in between these events won’t hurt, it will be painful to not get a job if you wanted it or feelings of rejection if a person doesn’t want to go out with you, however these feelings won’t last and if we think about the ultimate result after this feeling we may notice that it isn’t as bad as we have built it up to be in our minds.
Tip #3 – when you are faced with a “worst case scenario” always ask yourself; what would happen after that scenario, what would happen after I felt that. Use this technique until there are no more options left. Would it actually result in a negative thing or is our imagination playing a trick on us and we only think it will end in a negative. Most likely it won’t have the catastrophic ending we think it will, and then again we allow ourselves to change our mind to be more positive about our situation.
Give these tips a try and if you want to delve more into how your brain works. Or how your thoughts are formed from your personal experiences and how you can put a more positive spin on your thinking then I am offering 50% off initial kinesiology consultations until the end of September. Please mention this article to reception when you make a booking.
