Don’t Let Your Brain Sabotage You

Training your brain “how” to think sets you up for success.

You have to be the boss of your brain, otherwise unhealthy thoughts will consume and control you.

Don’t let your mind control you.

“Rewiring” your mind is essential for productive learning, a positive attitude, and continued achievement.

The Unconscious Mind Can be Your Friend or Foe

Some people spend up to 57% of their waking life daydreaming.

This can produce a deep well of creativity, or it can lead to depression and irrational behavior. It all depends on how our default mode has been programmed.

Your subconscious mind can be set to help or hurt you.

The problem is you can’t control your brain when your mind wanders. You have to try to set it up to be positive before it goes into default mode.

Here are a few conscious things you can do to encourage your brain to be a helpful partner even when you are daydreaming.

Remember that thoughts are not facts.

Thoughts should not influence us too much, even when they are positive. Most psychologists agree that we should treat our thoughts as bystanders.

When we put distance between our thoughts and ourselves, we catch negative thoughts before they harm us.

Understand the Power of Imagery

Our thoughts also have the ability to conjure powerful images. The image you have of who you are is no more real than a child’s drawing–yet it can feel very real.

Actors who use the “imaginary body” technique will practice imagining they have a different body. For example, They will begin to feel heavier by imagining themselves carrying around more weight. An actor skilled in this technique will even be able to generate real physical responses to their imaginary body.

The body sometimes can’t tell the difference between a vivid fantasy and reality.

This means images we conjure from our imaginations can have physical benefits.

Learn how to use visualization to relax nerves, or bring out your best performance.

Train Your Brain to See risk as Opportunity

There are two types of people. You are either prevention focused–tending to avoid taking risks, or promotion focused–seeing risk as opportunity.

Someone who is promotion focused is willing to take a risk if the potential for gain is great. These are the people who tend to be more successful long-term. They will weather the minor storms of failure until they achieve a big payoff. It takes grit and a “re-framing” of what failure means if you want to be promotion focused.

The Cumulative Effect of Healthy Thinking

You can set your default mode up to be positive by taking conscious control of your brain first.

1. Avoid reacting to thoughts before you’ve observed them.

2. Use imagery to prime your body for successful actions.

3. Don’t be risk-averse. Learn from failure and play the long game.

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