“When you let your thoughts float free as kites on a summer breeze, you never know what creative inspiration you’ll encounter.” – Doreen Virtue
When we feel stressed out, it is tempting to throw in the towel and accept that things are not going to turn out well. Our minds become clouded with negative fantasies about what is going to happen at work, on a test, or at an upcoming doctor’s appointment. It is helpful to realize that the first thing to change is our thinking. When we change the story we are telling ourselves, we become more receptive to new ideas and information that tell a more encouraging tale.
Working with students, it does not take long to discern what they are expecting out of life. A student who has struggled in the past often believes that they are not capable of succeeding. They might say things, such as, “What’s the point of studying when we all know how it’s going to turnout?” What these students fail to recognize is that their thoughts and words have become a self-fulfilling prophesy. These students are more likely to give up and not study effectively because they have already told themselves that they are not going to be successful. When the subconscious mind hears these thoughts, it takes them as truth, and begins to plan accordingly. This is why it is important, in times of worry and doubt, to remain open to new ideas about what is possible.
Often it takes a student several times of doing it their way, before they are willing to shift their thinking regarding tests or other difficult tasks. It is the nature of our minds to continue moving in the direction that we are used to moving. It is like our inner cruise control has been set and unless we put forth the effort to reprogram it, it will continue on down the road. This is as true for success as it is for failure.
When we decide to open up to new ideas, it is amazing what can happen. This approach is helpful at school, as well as relationships with family and friends. If things have gotten sticky, it is time to open up to ways of seeing things.
While there is a certain high that comes from digging into our familiar patterns of thought, and telling our old sob story, nothing beats the thrill of seeing a relationship turn around, or getting a high mark in a subject you once believed was an impossibility for you.
Opening to new lines of thought takes a certain level of faith. This is because our minds, in moments of stress, simply cannot see any other way of thinking about things. We have to slow down, get a bite to eat, or take a short nap. A walk around the block, or sitting quietly and relaxing for a few minutes, perhaps while listening to an uplifting song, is in order.
Anything that changes our state of mind long enough for new ideas to flow in.
They say Albert Einstein’s greatest ideas came to him while taking a relaxing bike ride, or after waking up from a nap. Like Einstein, we can all benefit from giving our minds a little room to breathe. When we do, our consciousness has time to synthesize old information in new ways, and tap into fresh streams of thought that shed light on things in unexpected ways.
If you have hit a mental impasse, take a break. As hard as it might be to believe that some form of leisure is the solution to your problem, give it a try.
You will be amazed as new experiences greet you in the most unexpected ways. It feels good to know that our limiting beliefs do not have to limit our success. Give it a go!
Edward Biagiotti is the Inclusion Specialist for Culver City Unified School District. He is also co-host of the popular radio show, Funniest Thing! with Darrell and Ed, to find out more go to www.DarrellandEd.com or send an email to: EdwardBiagiotti@ccusd.org