The Innocent Folly of Positive Thinking

The other night I chanced across a video on Youtube, featuring a very erudite and articulate scientist called Bruce Lipton. Normally one watches this type of content, get's mildly inspired but then quickly forgets the information as they click off down another digital rabbit hole.

But on this occasion, what - or perhaps how - Mr Lipton delivered his spiel, proved very enlightening. So much so that I thought it worth sharing the main points, with the intention of helping people 'get' a very important part of personal and professional self-development. 

The central theme of the good Dr's delivery was Positive Thinking. More specifically, how dangerous -  and a little tragic  - it is that so many people have been swept up by the great PT movement without knowing the full story. Canonised by The Secret and the central tenet to perhaps every form of personal development content, Positive Thinking seems to have defined a large part of the last decade. Yet for many people, myself included, when used as tool to intentionally create/manifest/acquire certain 'things' we want, PT often proves to be the proverbial chocolate fire guard. 

Before I break down Mr Lipton's explanation of this, let me affirm that I'm all for PT, and am in no way mocking it. It's actually common sense that one should spend his days thinking good, positive things. Especially when working towards a goal or intentional acquisition. But the disappointment and frustration arises when we use it in isolation, and expect the skies to rain money (cars, houses, careers etc..) on us. 

So, here's the rub on why positive thinking is not enough to create the things you want in life, and what we can do really make the changes we want 

// 2 minds are not equal to one //

When we're exercising PT, we're using our mind. Modern physics now proves that those thoughts create energy patterns that affect physics and biology: our inner and outer environment. In other words, it is now scientifically proven and accepted that the world inside and outside of us, at an energy level, moulds around the shape and texture of our thoughts and intentions. 

But there are two parts to the human mind. The conscious and the subconscious. And whilst many people consider these one and the same, the fact is they are two very different entities working on two very, very different levels. 

The conscious mind is what we use to think. Discern. Reason. Choose. Create. Analyse etc. It's what makes us Human. Individual. We are directly connected to it, and can control it at will. Some better than others.  Our subconscious mind however, is quite different. Although it belongs to us, we are only connected to it by association, and in fact it can be most accurately described as a tape player.  

// And this is where it gets very significant //

The subconscious essentially records experience, beliefs and patterns and plays them back, on loop, relentlessly. So we have a thinking mind, and a tape player mind, and the difference is very profound. Firstly, the subconscious is a million times more powerful at processing information than the conscious mind. Second, the subconscious is running our biology 95  - 99% of the time. So regardless of how actively we exercise our conscious mind, its the subconscious that's running the show, 95% of the time. And here's the thing; the subconscious is neither good nor bad. It runs on programs. And its these programs that are either good or bad. It's the programs that this machine is running on that are taking away, or indeed giving, us our behaviours, powers and abilities.

So what is the relevance of this to Positive Thinking?

Positive Thinking is a creative process that comes from the conscious mind . But whilst you're creating and visualising all these wonderful thoughts from the mini processor of the conscious mind, you're competing with the super computer and the programs of the subconscious mind. Which is a million times more powerful, and running the show 95 - 99% of the time!! So if your conscious thoughts and intentions are not supported by equivalent programs in the subconscious mind, which one do you think is going to win?

For example: if you want to have that perfect body and have created HD visualisations and powerful thoughts of you in possession of that body, but your subconscious is running on a program or belief system that doesn't support your ability to active that. It simply isn't going to work. You behaviour will quickly support that program and before you know it you're back where you started, staring down at the scales, laughing back at you.

Now here's the thing; to free up our conscious mind so that we are able to be the creative, pioneering race that we are, the subconscious has learned to run the show automatically. And if we aren't paying attention, which we very rarely are, we don't notice it when the subconscious mind is playing back negative, destructive and counter productive programs to what we are consciously trying to create! Ever met someone who behaves exactly like their parent, although vehemently denies it....there you have it.

So what happens when we do the all the conscious work and PT, and don't get what we want? We blame the outside world. We look for reasons and things 'out there' as the cause, because we miss, or have not been paying attention enough to the fact that its the programs 'in here', being played back by the super computer of the subconscious mind that have been causing us to sabotage and keep us from what we want. 

So once we learn to recognise our self-limiting and self-sabotage programs in the subconscious, we can start to stop blaming 'out there' and start doing the work 'in here' to change those programs, and so start changing our lives.

But here comes the next problem...

Many, if not most of us bought the idea that we can talk to our subconscious mind. That like our conscious mind there is someone directly attached to it; able to listen and reason. Which is where, like PT, the limitations of self-affirmations come in. You can no more have a dialogue with your subconscious (using your conscious mind) than you can stand over a stereo and reason with it to stop playing. The more we try, and oh have I tried in the past, the more frustrated you become, the less confident you are, and the less you believe in your ability to change. And so the sabotage loops on, getting stronger with every fail.

The 'aha...'

There is only one way to manipulate the tape player, and purposely begin to realign your subconscious programming with your conscious PT. And that is, quite simply, to engage it in 'record' mode. 

Knowing how to press record is the absolute basic foundations of intentionally changing our lives. Once we've pressed record and started the reprogramming, PT, self-affirmations and all the other creative conscious manifestation tools we have access to start to work in turbo mode. And you will change your life.

So how do we press record? That's coming next. But if you can't wait and want some immediate help with unearthing your negative programmes, and begin the reprogramming process, we'd standing by to help. 

Click here and drop us a mail, and we'll be in touch to discuss how we can help.

For now. Be Well.

How to keep your juices flowing....

 "It's a wonderful feeling. You're deep in the groove of your work, and everything seems to be going even better than expected. There's a lot on your plate, but you're managing your priorities with elegance and grace, and you're doing some of your best work. In short, you're on fire. Then, just as suddenly, it ends…"

Very smart article by Todd Henry, found of the Accidental Creative . Mines into a problem most of us face - creative or not - on a regular basis.

Cracking the Belief Code

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his greatest surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do"  Henry Ford

In my previous post about Resolutions, I mentioned the potential need to challenge and change any limiting beliefs you might have, that could hinder your chances of conquering some of your goals. The importance of this mustn't be underestimated. And not just for achieving of our ritualistic new year upgrade, but for everything we want in life.

Beliefs are as necessary to us as our physical organs. We cannot exist without them. We need them as parameters to interpret what is happening in our life. One could never be without beliefs, nor would you want to be. What you do want, however, is to consciously decide the beliefs you want working for you. To choose the 'lens' you will view the world through. 

And here your choices are unlimited.

You are not at the mercy of your past experiences, unless you believe that you are. With this new system you are free to break away from any past conditioning or limited circumstances by simply changing your thoughts and beliefs. When you change these you change everything. The future that you will encounter in your life is not preordained, nor does it happen arbitrarily. Your reality is forever being moulded and created from your thoughts and beliefs. Your possible future - and there are literally thousands of possible futures - is being formed by what you think and believe today. The present is the womb by which the future will be born. The future is dynamically alive within you now. You hold within you your own destiny. Change your thoughts and beliefs and you will change your future.

Once you fully recognize the power and influence beliefs have in your life, the next step becomes obvious. Change the beliefs that are limiting and holding you back, and create powerful new beliefs that serve and uplift you, beliefs that will take you wherever you wish to go.

There are three main methods for doing this, and all three should be employed. You can begin by using them individually or in combination with each other. Either way, you will eventually be working with all three.

1) Repattern Your Past

Don't spend time and energy looking back at your life to find out why you have a certain limiting belief. Why bother? To look backward in this way will only lead you into the habit of seeking negative examples that verify your old belief. Your past has been distorted by the lens you have chosen to examine it through. What is accomplished by searching the past with the same old lens, other than to further reinforce that limiting belief already held within you? 

This is why much psychotherapy proves futile, simply miring the patient further in his or her own muck.  A great many of the unsatisfactory conditions in our life have resulted from our becoming frightened or confused during an unpleasant experience. We began to doubt ourselves, and started concentrating upon negative aspects of our lives, thereby eventually creating that imprint within us.  For example, one person, because of an unpleasant experience, begins to doubt his ability to get along with others. So he searches his past with an 'I don't relate well with people' lens, and much to his horror finds many experiences to support this idea. His mind begins to feed on these memories. His remembering becomes highly selective. Without even realizing it, he invents his own history, and furthermore convinces himself that this history represents an accurate picture of who he is. 

However, if this person had journeyed through his memories with the lens, I get along great with people, trying to find a different kind of proof, he would undoubtedly have discovered many instances when he got on very well with others. However you choose to view your life, through whatever lens you have constructed, this will structure and filter your memories, and you will always be able to justify your belief with "proof."  

So in changing beliefs you must practice changing your lens. Look through your past in a new way, looking for new, forgotten or ignored truths. If you lack confidence, for example, search your past for instances when you were confident. If you are honest in this search you will find lots of examples of you performing tasks assuredly. But you must search with the lens, "I'm confident," not the "I lack confidence lens." 

Each lens will produce a different set of examples. There will be numerous examples of both. It all depends upon which you want to emphasize.  In almost all cases of present limitation you have programmed yourself to stress negative aspects relating to that part of your life. We all do it. So to rid yourself of these restrictions, you repattern your past from the present. Whatever your circumstances, use the past as a rich source of power, looking through it for long ignored successes. 

Restructure your past. Reinvent it. Rediscover it. Its like finding a bank account with money that you didn't know you possessed. Whatever you want to become or create in your current life, you can find ample evidence of it already happening to you in the past if you will only change your lens.

The Present is Your Point of Power

Stop for a moment and realize that the present is your point of power. When you are thinking about the past or imagining the future, both these actions happen in the present. When you act upon your life, it takes place in the present. In fact nothing you can do will ever happen outside of the present. So choosing in the present to reframe your past and future is incredibly powerful.  

An example: Pick a positive quality about yourself that you are proud of and absolutely certain you possess. Perhaps that you are caring, loving and compassionate towards others. Now, using your memory, search your past for times when you were not caring, times when you were selfish, mean, unkind and hurtful. Locate a number of these examples. Now imagine yourself lingering on these images each day. Each day you purposely recall these images and feel bad about them. Soon you begin telling yourself that you are indeed mean-spirited and selfish.  If you continued this practice you would literally hypnotize yourself into believing that this selfish, mean-spirited person is who you are, and then you would begin to become this person. This belief would become self-fulfilling.  

Likewise with our negative qualities. We have programmed ourselves without even realizing what we've been doing. We have hypnotized ourselves through repetition and selective memory into believing that this reduced version of ourselves is who we are. But you can change this. You can look within yourself for evidence of whatever positive qualities you desire. Examine your past with this in mind. Do not let the past reinforce your limitations; use it to reinforce what you wish to become. Be diligent about this. Use the selective process of your mind to your advantage.

2) Imprinting

What is 6 x 6? , 7 x 5? , 9 x 9? How is it that you know these answers instantly, quicker than you can punch the numbers into a calculator? It is because you have imprinted the multiplication tables into your consciousness. Think back to when you were in school. Think of how many times these tables were repeated, written out and practiced, until eventually they became imprinted into your consciousness. And now they are firmly imprinted. You need not practice them or refresh yourself - they are there for life.  

What you have done with the multiplication tables can also be done with new beliefs you wish to permanently imprint into your consciousness. The process is exactly the same, and the repetition equally important.  For five or ten minutes a day concentrate your attention as vividly as possible upon one simple statement. For example, if you wanted to imprint a belief about your subconscious that would help you to be successful you might use this one: "My subconscious mind is my partner in success." Having picked the statement you wish to use, begin to concentrate on it. Try to feel the statement in whatever way possible. Do not allow your mind to drift to other subjects. If it does, bring your attention back to your statement and refocus. Feel the power and implication of what you are saying. Let it become alive within you. Repeat it over and over, allowing your mind to absorb its message. If your mind insists on images, channel the images toward your declaration. Close yourself off to all other truths or realities, focusing solely upon the feeling and power of the statement.  

The repetition, whether verbal or mental, is important because it activates neurological patterns. Do not strain. Do not question or doubt. Enjoy the process. Feel its power. Let it energize you.  When the exercise is finished, do not dwell upon it, second guess yourself, wonder if its true. Put if from your mind until the next day, when you will repeat the process. Realize you are using the present as a moment of power to insert new beliefs that will naturally be materialized. It will happen automatically.  

You may want to experiment with the precise wording of your statement. Often it takes three or four revisions before the statement feels exactly right. Once you have it right then simply continue with it. You may experience spectacular results almost immediately. If you do, wonderful, but do not let this fool you into discontinuing the exercise. Often when people begin this process they do not realize how quickly results can be seen, and they become overexcited about the results achieved. In their excitement they forget to continue the exercise. If you want permanent results, you must fully imprint the new belief. A minimum of sixty to ninety days is necessary for a permanent imprint to take hold.

3) Action

The sooner you begin to act upon the new beliefs you are creating, the better. Otherwise you are not trusting and using the present. If you're struggling with financial prosperity and want to have more money and you're trying to establish a belief in abundance while still faced with your lack, then begin demonstrating abundance. In your outer reality take some symbolic action that shows you are changing. Maybe give some money (no matter how little) to charity. Indulge yourself somehow. A nice meal, a new article of clothing, a little gift to yourself.  

Or if you're lacking confidence, you would first repattern your past, searching and finding past examples of you being confident and you would focus daily on these. You would also imprint new empowering beliefs supporting your confidence, and then finally you act as if it were true. Bring action into the formula. No matter how small or inconsequential the action may seem, it is a huge step. It is a manifestation in outer reality.  Responding to your new beliefs in this way is sending a strong signal to your subconscious that new realities are beginning to take hold, that you are willing to change, that you are cooperating with the process, that it is in fact already happening.  

Remember, the initiative must come from you. Challenge yourself to find ways to demonstrate your changing reality the way you wish.

Very Good things. 

CB

@confluence
With thanks to the work and writing of John Keho

Cracking the Resolution Code

The eagerly anticipated 2011 is finally within believing distance, and in time honored tradition that period is upon us again, for sussing ourselves out; aiming at goals, painting dreams and ordering that much sought-after existence upgrade. 

But Resolutionism is inherently a hard thing to pull off. And most of the time it's because we approach it - harmlessly and unintentionally - in a very ego centric and outside-in way. And nobody likes a bruised ego, especially a self-inflected one.

So here's a few pointers designed - harmlessly and very intentionally -  to assist you in nailing 2011 the way it deserves to be nailed, and move towards cracking the Resolution Code. 

1.   Forget 2010: 

 It sucked (generally), and we all did the best we could. Leave it, and anything you projected onto it (like resolutions) behind. Never recycle an old resolution. Tweek it slightly, re-colour it, lower or higher its' thresholds but never recycle. Especially one from last year.

2. Be as Value driven as you can:

 Setting New Year goals that are based on your primary, individual Values, not only renders them more powerful and authentic, but it also makes them more vital and inspirational to achieve.  

Of course, to do this one has to understand what their primary Values are. It's unhealthy how few do. So, if you need a little good ole fashioned self-examination, I thoroughly recommend spending an hour or so following the steps and tips provided by these lovely people: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_85.htm 

Basing Resolutions on your Values is being 100% true to yourself; turning that unintentional 'ego centric outside in' model on its head, and ensuring you launch yourself into a New Year really getting and digging who you are, and how you can become even more diggable before the start of the next. 

3. Write them down:

There's a statistic somewhere (that I can only hedge on right now), that suggests; the simple act of writing your goals or Resolutions down, takes you more than half way towards achieving them. 

NB: Typing is NOT writing.

Without going into too much detail as to how; by actually writing down your Resolutions you're adding a huge amount of intent to achieving them, and going that all important 4 for 

4: 1) processing and thinking about each one as you write, 2) reading each one as you write, 

3) physically feeling each one as you write, and 4) hearing each one as you write. Either by speaking out loud, or as 85% of us will do, reel them off in our heads.

Turbo-charged intent...

4. Inspire yourself: 

By their very definition; goals, dreams and Resolutions should dazzle us. Scare us a little, pull us up by our boot straps and excite us into take deep, anticipating breaths.

So once you've arrived at a final list, make sure you get a burst of adrenaline or excitement in your belly when you read each one. That's feeling. That's your fuel to keep you motivated throughout the year.

If there's anything on that list that doesn't create that buzz, challenge it. Check it against your Values. Ask yourself if it's epic and intense enough to warrant the grandiose title of 'Resolution'. If it doesn't inflate or reshape it accordingly, or simply take it off and put on tomorrow's basic to do list...because chances are, that's where it belongs. 

Ok, so by now you should be looking at a final list. So here's the big one...

5. Make sure you 'Believe' that can achieve each one:

And I mean 'really' believe.

Anyone can passionately write down and get fired up that they want to be a millionaire this time next year, and declare "yup, doable". But let's be honest, if that same someone has never made more than $100k in a year before now, chances are deep down where it counts, they simply won't believe 7 figures is indeed "doable". Far from it.

Contrary to what many might be thinking right now, this is not pissing on the goal-setting bonfire. It's sensibly deploying THE most fundamental truism there is, in the field of personal development. If you do not believe, for whatever reason, that you can get/earn/manifest/create/attract whatever it is you want, it ain't gonna happen. Period. 

Setting Resolutions that fall outside of your belief system is borderline self-harm. And unsurprisingly they're rarely, if ever, aligned with your Values. 

So, how to test if you 'really' believe you can achieve a Resolution? Well first and foremost, simply by being conscious of the trap is a good start. Again, like Values, it's amazing how few people are aware of how much gravity and importance we need to place on supporting (or limiting) beliefs in all areas of our lives. So to coin a cliche, 'knowledge is power' and simply by being aware that your belief system can either propel or stall your intentions in life, represents a massive part of the job.

The rest is common sense and exercising a little intuition. But if any limiting belief obstacles do come up, you have 3 basic choices:

1. Ditch the Resolution (booooooo!)

2. Shape the Resolution until if feels 'really' doable (hey, $250k isn't a bad pay day, and will feed your confidence and belief to go bigger and better in 2012)

3. Challenge and change the belief to support the goal: (ding ding!)

(New post to come with some good stuff on doing that)

So, forget last year, lock down your values, write (not type) it all down, make sure it inspires and make double sure its all doable. Then what?

6. Start taking action now!

Let's face it Jan 1st is a write off for most. Jan 2nd it's straight back to the office. Which means it's Jan 4th or 5th before most of us feel human enough to start getting serious. Psychologically this doesn't  bode well for a guiltless 2011, so it makes perfect sense to get a few punches in early. 

We've got 4 1/2 days till the NYE melt down. If you can take action towards your Resolutions before then, do it! Anything. Any action, gesture of intent or commitment will carry you sailing through till the 4th/5th guilt free and with one, or both feet on the ladder to Resolution salvation. 

7. Use technology to keep focused

The biggest barrier to achieving Resolutions is loss of focus and concentration (which leads to apathy). Hardly surprising since we are more wired than ever before, and the amount of message units we are forced to absorb every day is increasing exponentially. Needless to say it's a noisy, busy, hectic world to contend with.

But one solution lies in the very technology responsible for the information overload; turning it into a pseudo, watch tapping life coach. Setting auto prompts and calendar series reminders on laptops and smart phones, is a sure fire way of giving yourself a healthy weekly/monthly/quarterly reminder that you've got some scores to settle with yourself. 

It may sound a touch geeky, but if you're really serious about nailing your 2011 Resolutions; assessing, reviewing and taking action towards them as regularly as every week (depending on what time constraints you've placed on each of them) is going to be paramount.

So there you have it. I hope some of this proves useful to somebody, somewhere. And if you want to explore anymore on the subjects of Values or Beliefs please feel free to tap me with up with any questions. I'll do my best to help, or point you in the right direction.

Good things and here's to nailing 2011.

CB