How to Replace Negative Thoughts with Positive Beliefs

'Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.'  W. Clement Stone

What Beliefs Lead Your Life and Actions? 

 The messages leading our lives and actions are everywhere--in newspapers, TV and the internet; in our communications and actions; in our photos, art, and music.

Every day we're bombarded with messages running the gamut from life-affirming to fear-creating--and we're letting them influence us. Unless we pause to consciously choose which ones we let in, those negative ones heightening our fear response are the ones most likely to get into our psyches.

Fear, Anxiety and Anger Don't Need Help Getting In

 Unfortunately fear-creating messages don't need help getting into our brains. Because they come fully-packed with a strong emotional charge they get fast-tracked in as the fear whips through our body and there they stay until we work to get the negativity out.

But it doesn't have to be that way. You can choose to let more positive thoughts take up residence in your brain leading to more positive actions by taking your cue from the power of fear and anger producing thoughts. 

Take a Lesson from the Bad Boys--Fear, Anxiety and Anger

The problem with positive, life-affirming messages, such as 'All is Well in my World' is they are so very nice. They fail to slam you in the gut like the bad boys--fear, anxiety and anger.The lesson to be learned from the success of negative thoughts slipping in is the brain loves and attends to messages with strong emotional and visual impact.

'The lesson to be learned from the success of negative thoughts is the brain loves and attends to messages with strong emotional and visual impact.'

To remedy the situation find ways to present positive, calming, affirming messages with strong emotional and visual impact. The stronger the meaning you give a message, the more your brain attends to it.

Here's the thing--your brain doesn't remember facts, it remembers meaning. So the more meaning you give something, the more it takes root in your memory. 

'Your brain doesn't remember facts, it remembers meaning.'

Focus Your Attention on the Positive Messages

Rather than glancing at the affirmation 'All Is Well in my World' and moving on with your day, stop and do something with it ~React to it ~ Talk about it ~ Redesign it ~ Apply it ~ Go for a walk and ponder it. When you experience a discrepancy between what you believe and how you act, you will change your beliefs to match your actions. Choose positive actions and positive beliefs will follow.

  

• What meaning does 'All Is Well in my World' have for you today? 
• What can you do to apply it to your life?
• What is getting in the way of you accepting this message as true for you right now?
• How can you switch from accepting fear-based messages to accepting everything is well in your world?

Create Eye and Heart Candy for the Brain 

Rather than reading the words in positive messages, actively respond to them. Turn the messages into pieces of art or postcards to send on to others. The more color you use creating positive artful messages, the more meaning you give them. And the more you share them with others, the deeper the messages get in your own psyche.

All is Well in my World

Let go of the fear. All is well.

What beliefs are you affirming through your actions?

• When you get out for that daily walk or bike ride you affirm you're healthy and active.
• When you stay involved in serving your community you confirm you're connected.
• When you celebrate other's good fortune in getting or keeping a job, you affirm your own good fortune is on its way.
• When you pass on life-affirming messages to others you affirm your own desire to create  life-affirming actions.

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For more than 25 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes changing easier than ever before. Contact Susan to schedule life change coaching, weekend retreats, or engaging Lightarted experiences to share with friends.