Your brain is a crazy mechanism that can form and alter thought-patterns and neural pathways relatively easily. It can help to think of our brains as computer software in that our brains are “coded” to think and feel a certain way in different scenarios.
But, how did our brains get “coded” in the first place, and is there a way we can change the programming inside our brains to optimize our openness, vulnerability, growth, happiness, and peace?
Our brains have been hard-wired through the “Thought Cycle” many of us are familiar with (Thoughts -> Feelings -> Behaviors). Our thinking patterns affect how we feel, how we feel dictates how we act, and how we act changes how we feel thus completing the cycle.
So, when we spend a lot of time thinking about anything, positive or negative, we are programming our brain. This happens whether we want it to or not, whether it is advantageous or detrimental to our lives.
An example of the Negative Thought Cycle would be, when I think about money, I often begin thinking about all of the ways that I lack it or need it or am going to be in trouble if I don’t get it. I am eventually going to have a program in my brain that reacts negatively with anxiety and stress every time I think about money. Having a negative association with money (or anything else) inevitably makes us prone to avoid thinking about it and to avoid taking meaningful steps to improve our situation. This can lead to a negative mindset and behavior spiral that will make our situation worse.
So how do we make our situation better?
In each unique moment we participate in throughout this beautiful human experience we have an opportunity to reform the “code” in our brains. We do this by simply breaking the cycle! Look for opportunities to think a new positive and bright thought, and think it enough for it to affect how you feel. Your subconscious will do the rest to create a positive spiraling effect on your life.
Cultivate an awareness for the negative thought patterns you may be allowing into your everyday life. With an awareness of your limiting beliefs, you can begin practicing new, positive thoughts that can counteract and eventually reprogram your brain to think, feel, and behave differently.
Positive affirmations are an incredibly simple yet powerful tool that helps you do just this. There are many amazing apps, like the Selfpause Positive Affirmations app, that will start with you wherever you are in your positivity journey and help you reprogram your brain to empower you to be your best.
Download the Selfpause app on IOS and Android and start rewriting your thought software today!
