Thought Control
Our thoughts are the most powerful force in our lives. As our thoughts go, so our lives go. Our thoughts are our life’s rudder. Like a massive ship is controlled by a tiny helm, our thoughts guide our lives. If you want to set a proper course for your life, you first have to set that course in your mind. Then, your mind needs to remain fixed on that course. If your mind is allowed to wander, so will your course.
Thousands of thoughts cross your mind every day, and it may seem hard, even impossible to control. However, if you do some advance planning, and have in place the thoughts you want to consider, the thoughts you want to maintain, the thoughts that you want to have fill the space of your mind, the uncontrolled, unbidden, unproductive thoughts won’t have room to trespass. If they try, you can quickly recognize them for what they are and refocus your thoughts on what you have planned in advance to consider.
For example, a gymnast can rehearse a routine in his or her mind. In that mental rehearsal he or she can picture a flawless routine or picture a flawed routine. The most consistent perception he or she carries in his or her mind, combined with practice, is what will have the greatest affect on his or her performance. This has been born out with statistical research.
A 4 time Olympic wrestler told me he cut back his physical work out times and took more time to focus his thoughts on what he needed to do to win. He found he performed better overall because of his mental focus.
A parable is told of an old Indian who had a pet that was part wolf, part dog. A visitor asked him which was more pronounced, the wolf or the dog. The old Indian replied, “whichever I feed the most.”
Feed productive thoughts. Starve the negative.
