How we think about something often determines our
experience thereof and it all depends on what or how we
think about it. One of my favourite quotes smartly sums
this up: “ If you change the way you look at things, the
things you look at change. ” – Wayne Dyer
We’re faced with challenges throughout our lives. Now, we
can either think about these challenges as great
inconveniences OR we could realise that they are perhaps
opportunities for personal growth.
A couple of weeks ago, I thought I had been robbed of my
purse. I couldn’t find it anywhere. My driver’s license,
ID, medical aid card and debit card were all gone. Talk
about an inconvenience.
I endured the tedious process at Home Affairs TWICE –
first for my temporary ID then the permanent one. I
then went to the bank where I cancelled my missing debit
card and was kindly reissued a new one. I then applied
for a new driver’s license card and endured an intensive
glare from a police woman who, after some questioning,
let me fill out an affidavit declaring that my purse was
indeed missing.
Two weeks later, I look under my desk, and what do I
find? My purse of course.
I went completely blank; I was shocked, stunned, and
speechless. If it weren’t for my boss, who said to me that I
now at least have duplicates of everything – one to store
safely and the other to carry with me - I would have
probably been more angry about the fact that I had spent
my entire Saturday sorting out my legal existence.
A classic example of either seeing the glass half empty or
half full. Life really is mind over matter and what we
think greatly effects the quality of life we live.
This all sounds fantastic in theory, but first, disrupt the
following 10 thinking-patterns to improve your quality of
life:
1. Always thinking of the worst case scenario. This is a
rather common way of thinking that causes you
unnecessary trauma, drama and stress. Such negativity
only breeds more negativity. It is also such a tragic waste
of imagination because you’re creating a series of events
that are highly unlikely to happen.
Firstly, chill. Deal with what IS happening, rather than
figuring out a modus operandi for what isn’t.
2. Never living in the now. If you’re guilty of the point
above, chances are you’re pretty much guilty of this one
too.
“You can’t change yesterday, but you can ruin today by
worrying about tomorrow.”– I could not have stated this
any more effectively. Kudos, Mind Unleashed.
3. Jumping to conclusions. Have you ever walked into a
break room at work, found a group of colleagues suddenly
go quiet and you probably thought they’re talking about
you?
Chance are they weren’t, but this goes to show just how we
jump to conclusion. There’s always more to life than
meets the eye and sometimes it’s good to remind yourself
that the world does not revolve around you. There are
many, many, MANY more topics.
4. Being unforgiving of your mistakes. I cannot stress
enough the importance of forgiving yourself of your
mistakes because dwelling on them will only cause
bitterness.
Don’t imprison yourself like that, rather learn from the
error of your ways and make peace. Let the past be
forgotten for you no longer living there.
5. Mental filtering. People often tend to filter out
anything and everything great about whatever is
happening to them only to persuade themselves out of it.
I don’t know why people do this –perhaps it’s fear?
If you’re doing this to yourself to avoid people, events or
situations, remember that the only things you ever regret
is the things you don’t do. So, live and love openly.
6. Allowing the doubt of others to direct your life.
Relationships and friendships aren’t eternally
guaranteed, but living with who are you is. So, do what’s
in your heart because you can’t live without your heart.
7. Taking things personally. Do you often find yourself
feeling offended by what people say or do? Don’t,
because what people say or do has more to do with who
they are than you.
8. Trying to compete with everyone else. Realise this:
When competing with others, you become bitter, but when
you compete with a previous version of yourself, you will
become better.
9. Emotional reasoning. When we feel bad, we reflect
this emotion into reality and suddenly everything
happening around us seems bad.
Separate what you feel from everything else that is
happening and deal with it. You’ll then open yourself up
to accept all the good life has coming your way.
10. Take responsibility. Believe and accept that you’re
in control of your life. Ultimately, if you are unhappy
with an aspect in your life, it is up to you to correct it –
peacefully and happily.
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