I’m pretty stoked about this article.
Have you ever heard something that, you’ve “heard” before, maybe lots of times, but this time, it hits you smack bang right in the heart?
That’s what we have here. The thought…. “Change your thoughts, change your life.”
Who hasn’t heard of this before?
It’s one of those big ideas that should be taught, and repeated, to every one of us throughout our entire lives.
So I asked this question of a number of different people:
“What has someone said or what have you read that helped you to totally change your thinking and so changed your life for ever?”
The responses were brilliant and I know you’re going to love them.
Change your thinking 1
I was teaching my little sister to ride her bike, but every time I took my hands away, she fell over crying out that she was afraid. Our elderly neighbor was sitting on the porch watching us as we tried over and over again. Until she softly said in words so low we could barely hear them. “Then my dear, be afraid, but do it anyway.” And my sister gritted her teeth got back on the bike and said defiantly, “I don’t need you Mikey.” And off she rode! MK
Change your thinking 2
“In 10 years time you’ll wish you’d started today. Do it or don’t do it, time will still pass.”
It reminded me that procrastination was just me wasting my precious time and more importantly my one precious life. CWMB
Change your thinking 3
Don’t try to change other people, they’re only messengers sharing reflections of who you think you are.”
This made me see others in an entirely different way. GG
Change your thinking 4
“You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It won’t happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say…I don’t care how hard this is, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” Joel Osteen.
I kept reminding myself of this when my marriage fell apart. LCS
Change your thinking 5
I was complaining to my mother how hard it had been to get the doctor’s receptionist to give me what I wanted. How difficult she was. How unfriendly and unhelpful she’d been. My mother asked if I got what it was I wanted. And when I said that I had, she asked me why I was complaining of the difficulties, instead of celebrating the success.
That thought has served me well throughout my life. PK
Change your thinking 6
I was thirteen and our Minister was telling the story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den. He said that when Daniel was imprisoned in the lions’ den he turned his back on the hungry beasts and using his imagination turned towards the light. His faith eventually gave him freedom. The Minister went on to tell us how this could work in our day to day life.
Look upon lions as representing dire problems of a threatening nature. So when faced with these if you would similarly turn your attention to the light of the solution you would find your prison walls crumbling and you would begin to experience what you most desired. To be free of the problems that threatened you.
This made such an impression on my young mind and began a new way of looking at the challenges in life that has never left me. CMB
Change your thinking 7
“Change your conception of yourself and you will automatically change the world in which you live.” Neville Goddard.
This was my gateway to escape past limitations and beliefs. GMS
Change your thinking bonus
I read this sentence: Consciousness is the only reality!
I thought about it for hours on a long car journey.
What did that really mean? How does that apply in my life? How can I use this idea to experience more of everything I hold dear in the world.
And I eventually understood that my consciousness, which meant everything I was aware of, everything I accepted, everything I thought of within was the creator of the reality I experienced without.
It blew my mind. And left me with an ever greater urge to expand my consciousness to live life in a larger and more beautiful way. Elle.
Your turn:
If you’ve been feeling a little lost or lonely or defeated, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just remember:
[Tweet “At any moment you can have a thought that can change the course of your life for ever.”]
What little thoughts are you aware of that could change your thinking for ever? Or have already changed your thinking for ever?
Leave a comment below and share a little of your story with us.
Encourage one another.
Love Elle
xox
18 Comments
These are wonderful stories, Elle. I never thought much about having the capacity to change my mind for a good part of my life. I was on automatic. Meeting the Buddhist teachings showed me that I have the power to transform my heart and mind.
Hi Sandra…it’s always so interesting when you hear what other’s have done with a few words that they heard…that totally changed the way they live. I think it’s wonderful that Buddhist teachings have given you an awareness that you are the power in your life.
I enjoyed reading the stories. Yes, once I realised that it was up to me to change my thinking, I felt a lot more empowered to take charge of my life.
That’s a great point Evelyn…the empowerment that ensures once we begin to see that life can be other than what it has been and it’s up to us to make is so. 🙂
I love, love, love this post and all the real examples. I think my favorite is the first one about rdiing the bike. I am currently trying to teach this concept to my young adult son. I constantly tell him that being afraid IS NOT incompatible with moving forward. It’s part of it.
When we change our perspective, we really do change our worlds….and even our physical brains.
I think the riding a bike thing has happened to most of us Debbie…belief that we can’t will definitely hold us back. What a wonderful thing to be teaching your young son. 🙂
Great concept and great compilation, Elle !
I remember one of my grandmothers telling me ” never look down on anyone AND never look up at anyone”. The first part hit me immediately but it actually took the second part several years to sink in.
Thank you !
Write on, Elle !
It sounds as though your grandma had some sound advice there Joseph…thank you for sharing your story. 🙂
Sometimes it’s the littlest shift that brings the biggest change in perception. Thank you Elle for these great stories
Hi Allanah…always appreciate your kind words. I too thought those stories were pretty darn good. 🙂
These are amazing examples Elle, of how changing your thoughts can change your life. It was wonderful to feel the burden lifted when I discovered that I have a choice about how I live my life. My reactions and my attitude can make all the difference.
Thanks for an interesting post!
Isn’t it true Cathy. We’ve all heard that thought over and over yet seeing how people applied it in their lives is a great clue as to what we all can do. And as you say, what a relief to know that we have choices in life. 🙂
I love this post. Our thinking is so vital to our lives. My favorite change in thinking was when I was in high school. I HATED geometry and tried really hard but it just made no sense. I was complaining to my Mom about how stupid it was and how I would never need to use this kind of geometry in my life. She told me the purpose of all that geometry was to teach my how to think. That turned out to be very true. I never use geometry in my day to day life, but I learned to be a really good thinker.
Hi Michele…Love your story it’s so fascinating that your choice to shift your perspective has had such a positive impact on your life. Awesome! 🙂
Awesome. Really happy to read
Thanks for taking the times to let me know Meenu. Your thoughts are always appreciated. 🙂
Encourage one another….that’s the best part…
True enough Kokie. 🙂