Thoughts/beliefs create our emotions…

Many thoughts pop into our heads, and not all of them create our emotions.  Some thoughts are generated, and we dismiss them as false or unnecessary at that moment.  Other thoughts are generated, and based on our past experiences, we believe them to be true.  These believed thoughts will always trigger an emotional response, which can initially be very automatic.

Actions are ALWAYS taken to move us to a better feeling state…

If we have positive feelings/emotions the actions that will be taken will move us to a better feeling state.  If we have a negative feeling/emotion, this will trigger us to act in a manner that (we think) will make us feel better.

These actions may be conscious, deliberate actions, pre-conscious reactions and/or physical reactions that manifest in your body.  Perhaps you are depressed and need alcohol to soothe a negative feeling. Perhaps you are happy being with friends, so you extend your visit. Perhaps you are scared of spiders, and when you see one, your heart starts to race, and you step backward. Without exception, EVERY action/re-action is a direct response to the thoughts/beliefs in your brain at that very moment.

Change Your Thoughts – Change Your Emotions – Change Your Actions

If you want to change your actions, you MUST start with changing your thoughts/beliefs first!  More precisely, you must change your beliefs surrounding the situation causing your discomfort.  When you change your beliefs, you change the feelings they generate, and thus you change your actions.  When you feel better, you stop needing to numb or soothe yourself (your drinking or overeating will lessen).  When your trust in yourself increases, your fears lessen, and you act bolder and more confident.  When your love of yourself strengthens, you treat yourself better.  When your self-compassion increases, your compassion for others increases; thus, act more compassionately with patience and kindness. It ALL stems from what you believe to be true – about yourself – about your life.

Can you change?

Rest assured that YOU CAN CHANGE!!  You learn new things all the time; you learn how to cook something new, you learn someone’s name, and you learn new skills all the time.

An Optimistic Brain is a brain that generates positive beliefs/thoughts, which in turn causes you to feel positive feelings/emotions. These positive emotions enable you and your body to act positively.  The possibilities of actions that will become open to you will be much greater because you will no longer count yourself out.  These paths that you now can take were always there and were always plentiful – you just did not see them because of your limiting negative beliefs.

Your NEW Optimistic Brain will allow you to see all your life’s possibilities and in turn, will motivate you to choose the actions that will lead you to achieve all that your heart desires!

I have listed many practical exercises on this website that you can do regularly.  They are easy to do.  They do not take that much time.  They work! Just like an athlete who changes his/her exercises regularly, you will want to do different exercises depending on the progress you are making. Changing them up is a GREAT idea, and it is encouraged.

If you diligently practice these exercises, you will be in control of your own life.  You will be in control of your own happiness.  You will be responsible for your own destiny.  You will be the one who chooses paths that are fun and fulfilling.  You will see all the options that are open to you.  The only thing you have to do is to retrain your brain to become an Optimistic Brain, and the rest will take care of itself through renewed self-motivation and drive.

It’s not magic.  It is based on scientific facts and experience.  You are just beginning to open your eyes to the world of possibilities that have been there all along.   That is the real secret!