Learn to love yourself (just that little bit more) in three easy steps
Now that you have gotten to know yourself a bit more (in front of the mirror) it’s time to find out more about why you feel the way you do, your mind chatter.
I like to call this “monkey mind” (I learnt this one from my yoga teacher). Think of a monkey swinging from branch to branch, is that what your mind is like?
Going from one unhelpful thought to another? “I can’t do this or that”, “I’m too tired”, “My life is too hard” and so on.
Chatter, chatter, chatter, every minute of the day we are criticising ourselves. Arggh.
You are not alone in thinking this way; it has become a natural state for all of us.
It’s time to quieten the chatter and noise.
Think about what you are thinking about. That’s it. It’s OK to have thoughts. We all have them.
Can you turn any of your thoughts around?
Think about where your thoughts came from in the first place? Your parents? Your teachers? Your sisters or brothers? Did people tell you couldn’t do something, or that you were making a mess or you were too stupid?
These thought patterns are old; they form when we are very young and we carry them into adult life and use them against ourselves. Bah humbug…
Think about your thoughts, examine them, turn them over, are they big thoughts or just little thoughts?
I like the analogy that thoughts come and go like clouds. Try to envisage exactly that. Recognise the thought and let it float by. Nothing else, just let it float by.
I know what you’re saying “But I cannot get that thought out of my mind, it’s replaying like an old record”.
Don’t try too hard, trying is an effort. Let the thoughts come and go but start to recognise them.
Break the thoughts down, examine them. We ARE our thoughts, really think about that one.
We become what we think about.
If you are thinking about negative things all the time then that is what comes true for us. If you say to yourself “I’m fat”, “I’m old” or “I’m unlovable” (and so on…) then that is your thought pattern and by default your life will be the same.
Try changing the voice inside your head to “I am worthy of love”, “I have a womanly shape”, “I am mature and wise”. Turn them around to the positive. And mean it.
I have a saying whenever I feel a bit shizzle, it goes like this:
I am happy
I am healthy
I am enough
Whenever we say “I am” instead of “I should be” or “I could be” we turn the attention to ourselves. It’s a simple thing to do, become more aware of how you talk to yourself.
Change it up and see how you feel. I’m guaranteeing you will feel a whole lot better.
Step outside your thoughts and just observe them. Increase the space between you and your thoughts. Notice that you are not your thoughts, they are separate from you.
Spend time becoming aware of you and your thoughts. You can do this whilst doing anything, watching TV, doing the dishes, walking your furry friend; anytime of the day.
If you notice that the chatter bugs are creeping in again, just observe. Don’t struggle with them, let them come up and out.
Feel your feelings.
Once you start to recognise your thoughts, you give the negative ones less attention and they stop replaying over and over. (That’s not say that they may not crop again the next day, but you will know what they are and then use the cloud analogy).
These thoughts may be true to you right now, or you may feel that they are but they can be changed, all thoughts can be changed.
Embrace the real you (and your thoughts), you are one of a kind and so totally special.
If you are loving my witty and thoughtful words (LOL) why not take a look at my e-course “Life Uncomplicated”.
Discover how easy it is to change your life (without all the hoopla).