Have you wondered how you can go about transforming your mind? Our minds work in mysterious, almost magical, ways. They are so powerful, we aren’t even aware of the incredible number of tasks they are performing every day! To be able to get so much done, however, the brain has learned certain “shortcuts” –memorizing old patterns to be able to do them without using a lot of energy. Though this can be useful for things like keeping us breathing, digesting our food, and getting us to the grocery store, it’s not super helpful when we’re trying to change our mindset – the way we approach certain situations in our lives.
Here are some simple ways for transforming your mind to learn the new patterns we want to have so that we can have a healthier, happier life!
The Power of Gratitude
Yes, you’ve heard it before and you’ll likely hear it again – gratitude does WONDERS for our minds AND our bodies! Here’s why: being grateful or thankful for things that happen in our lives (even things we didn’t think we want to happen) allows us to reframe the situation and see it in a positive light. For example, if your car breaks down and you have to get a new one, you could spend the day (or week) moping, getting upset, or complaining to everyone within earshot. OR, you could be excited that you get to buy that new car you’ve been wanting and have put off buying! Being grateful not only allows us to see how something could actually be beneficial to us, it has also been shown to boost the moods of those who practice it – making us more productive, more focused, and healthier (happiness is a great immune booster!).
Daily Habits
In addition to taking your shower, brushing your teeth and getting dressed in the morning (we hope!), there are several additional habits you can incorporate to change the way you think about things (money, food, relationships, etc.). Because changing the programs your brain has been running does not happen overnight, it takes a consistent practice to make those new neuropathways. Much as a person wanting to run a marathon has to build the muscles needed to go long distances, your brain needs its own type of “workout” to train it to think differently. Some things you can do every morning to make this happen are as follows:
- Affirmations
- Meditating
- Journaling
- Reading
Spending 10-20 minutes each morning telling yourself your new mantras or affirmations to convince your brain that they are possible and true, meditating on those thoughts, writing them down, and then doing inspirational reading to get you into a positive mindset for the day will work miracles! It will also give you a positive start and enable you to be more efficient during the day.
Eat Brain Food
Lastly, eat organic brain food- vegetables and fruits! Feeding your brain the purest and highest quality foods will give you the greatest advantage. Chemicals in non-organic foods play a big role in the hormones associated with our feelings. Too many hormones/pesticides in our foods can cause an imbalance in our own bodies, which will make balancing your mind difficult. Eliminate those pesticides and hormones and your body, mind, and soul will thank you!
Transforming your mind isn’t magic. It’s all about transforming yourself, your level of happiness and drive in this world! You can do it!
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