A crucial aspect of creating change involves understanding the role your thoughts play in the process of change.
You move in the direction of your most dominant thoughts.
So...
Be mindful of what you think.
Because your thoughts matter.
Be mindful of the images you allow to play out in your mind's eye.
Because the images in your mind's eye do matter.
Be mindful of your intentions.
Because your intentions matter.
As trite as it may sound, the most important conversation you will have all day is the one you have with yourself.
Some additional important ideas about thoughts, images and intentions include...
Have your thoughts, images and intentions aligned with the direction you want to move.
Act "as if" you have already created your desired outcomes.
Avoid the disempowering trap of focusing on what you don't want.
Remember, you move in the direction of your most dominant thoughts, images and intentions.
Focusing on what you DON'T want is a sure way to get more of what you DON'T want in your life.
For example, if you are currently a smoker and want to be smoke free...
You are not against smoking.
You are for your body and optimal health.
Whatever you stand against or fight you give more power to.
Attempts to make personal changes from the perspective of fighting leads to an experience of deprivation.
Focusing on what you want is experienced as a positive assertion of self.
Focusing on what you DON'T want weakens you.
Focusing on what you DO want strengthens you.
Focusing on what you DON'T want leads to intense preoccupation, a sort of cul-de-sac of misery.
Focusing on what you DO want leads to a healthy mindset that leads to positive change.
Focusing on what you DON'T want leads to feeling like a victim. It contributes to self pity, a need to blame and feelings of powerlessness.
Focusing on what you DO want helps you transcend complaining and facilitates feelings of resourcefulness.
Spend a few moments today getting a clear image in your mind's eye clearly seeing, hearing, feeling and experiencing what you want "as if" you already accomplished it.
About Mike Davison
Mike Davison is a Clinical Psychologist and a Life Design Coach. He has been a Professor in the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology in Chicago since 1996. His practice interests include individual psychotherapy, couples and family counseling, organizational consulting, and peak performance coaching.
Mike has professional publications in the areas of Cognitive Therapy, the treatment of depression, and brief therapy. He has also presented at numerous professional conferences on his approach to helping individuals create rapid change.
Mike works one-on-one with Robert Stuberg in the Masters Coaching Program and has become one of the most sought after coaches at Success.bz. His impeccable credentials combined with his common sense approach to life, set him apart as a high level coach to both individuals and organizations.
Mike's philosophy and approach to working with individuals can be described as collaborative and solution focused. He specializes in helping individuals identify and overcome limitations in their thinking, and has a knack of helping individuals find rapid solutions to long-standing challenges. As many of the newer schools of psychotherapy acknowledge, there is a strong connection between an individual's thinking, feeling and behavior. Therefore creating slight shifts in any of these areas can start the ball rolling to create profound change.
Mike lives in the Chicago area with his wife of 18 years, and their three children.
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