Practise using the power of your imagination with this positive visualisation
‘I‘ve had lots of worries in my life, most of which have never happened.’
Mark Twain
Negative thinking is a habit and habits can be broken. Negative self-talk (the inner critic) is often a habit of which we are not even aware.
By watching your thoughts, you can learn a lot about how your mind operates and the effect your thoughts have on your feelings and ultimately on how you behave. When you tell yourself that you have no energy, or that you are fed up, stressed and frustrated then that is what you will feel. Does this sound familiar? Please note that this is not your fault; the brain has a strong negative bias that is linked to our early survival instincts. Read more here…
When you feel down please be kind to yourself. fog always clears
We all have days when it feels like we are struggling under a fog and can’t see clearly. Often this can be because we are working too hard or simply trying to juggle too many different responsibilities.
This week Dublin was covered in a thick fog coming in from the sea. The famous Poolbeg chimneys in Dublin bay were completely masked by the mist. A visitor who had never seen the city before would not realise that the chimneys were there at all and yet behind all the fog the chimneys were as strong and prominent as always.
This week and every week, if you feel any heavy emotions that seem to cloud your thinking and drain your energy, please remember that underneath it all, you are still there, strong and prominent. The negative feelings will pass and you will soon be restored to your true self.
I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to be kind to yourself in those moments, hours or even days when you feel the weight of the fog. The human instinct is often to try and hide from any emotional pain, to push it down, to avoid it, to block it out in whatever coping mechanism we have learnt; this can often be to eat or drink to escape which, of course, does not work and the fog thickens and lingers longer. Often we will do anything but simply accept it. Show it compassion, accept it for what it is and then let it slowly pass.
The origin of the word emotion comes from the Latin word, ēmovēre which means to move. The fog always clears and emotions always move or pass on.
If and when you feel down or are worried about something, be kind to yourself, accept that the emotion is there for a reason and that it needs your attention and care. Show yourself compassion and let the emotion move and pass through you. Clarity will soon be restored and you will feel much better.
fog always clears
On this glorious bank holiday Monday I hope that you are in a position to enjoy the weather and find some time to unwind and relax.
Women’s mini marathonI am running the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon today for the seventh year in a row. I’ll be joining the thousands of women who have decided to do something good for themselves and at the same time raise money for charity. It is indeed a win-win situation.
Motivation often comes from focusing on rewards. The reward system in your mind is very strong but it can need help at times to be channeled positively. I believe in living in the present moment but also in setting clear, attainable goals that focus the mind and allow us to reach our full positive potential.
As summer is now well and truly in full swing, why not think about something that you wish to achieve this summer? It doesn’t have to be anything huge, any change that genuinely rewards you is significant. Our minds are activated by reward and this can be used to both our advantage and our detriment. The reward from becoming fitter, making healthier choices, brushing up on a language, reading more books or spending more time with positive people is a reward worth pursuing.
To help you define what goals you wish to pursue, think back to times in your life when you felt fulfilled and were achieving. Ask yourself what things were you doing then that you are not doing anymore? Find one goal that makes you feel good just by thinking about it and imagine/visualise how amazing you will feel when you have achieved it. I’ve been doing this for seven years now with the Mini Marathon and it clearly activates something in my mind that keeps me focused on training and raising money for my chosen charity.
Here’s to all the ladies taking part today!
Please take the time to have a look at my new online, self-help, digital programme, www.thepositivehabit.com
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The Rise of Online Therapy. The Positive Habit is discussed as an online, digital self-help programme by Katie Byrne in the Irish Independent, Life, Health and Wellbeing section. positive habit irish independent
Katie Byrne analyses the rise of therapy online and finds that it can be particularly useful for cognitive behavioural therapy and for self help courses like The Positive Habit. In addition, the ease of access is an important factor in explaining the rise as is the age profile of digital natives who are often more comfortable undergoing therapy online than face-to face.
Read more here…
positive habit irish independent
