It Is All In The Mind

By Ange Fonce

For years "positive thinking" and "goal setting" were often criticized as "pollyanna" and was relegated into the category of "new age" fluff. 

In recent breakthroughs in neuroscience along with understanding "mental thinking processes"... reveals "why" goal setting... the "law of acquisition" and "positive thinking" all work... regardless of whether you look at them from a metaphysical or a scientific perspective. 

Scientists have even identified specific parts of the "brain"... such as the reticular activating system or RAS... which works with the "visual parts" of our "brain" to call our "conscious attention" to things that are "important" to reaching our goals and to filter out those things that are unimportant. 

The RAS is activated by "programming" goals into our "sub conscious minds." 

Our "sub conscious mind" is the "power centre" and THIS is the mechanism that explains why "goal setting" and "positive thinking" are now being accepted as "scientific methods" for change. 

We are discovering that our "brain" is "cybernetic" in nature... which means that it is literally like a computer... waiting for a program to be installed. 

Here is the kicker... the "subconscious" is completely neutral and impartial... it will carry out any "instructions" you give it. 

Unfortunately... many of us are still running "negative programs" we picked up from others as children when our "non conscious minds" were totally open and impressionable... or which we developed over the years as a result of "repetition" of our own "negative thinking." 

As it turns out... our own "thoughts" repeated daily... are one of the primary ways that our "mental computer" is "programmed" on a "sub conscious level"... which is the level of "beliefs... habits" and "automatic behaviour." 

To "change" your results... you must overwrite "old negative programming" and install "positive new programming" into your "subconscious." 

This can be achived through such techniques as "written goal setting... positive self talk... affirmations" and "mental imagery" in the form of  "visualization." 

In the 1970s the Soviets and East Germans were the first to formally use "structured mental rehearsal"... and at that time... they dominated in several olympic sports. 

Today virtually all elite athletes use "visualization" extensively... as we now know that the "brain" cannot differentiate between "real practice" and "practice" that is "vividly imagined." 

If you are getting more of the same "negative results" in your life... such as the same "health problems"... or the same body fat continues to return even after you lose it... then you have probably been "un consciously running old negative programs" and "reinforcing" them with "negative thought patterns." 

You can begin the "positive mental reprogramming process" by writing down "your goals".. and "changing your internal dialogue" and taking a few minutes to relax... quiet your mind and perform a session of "visualization" or "mental rehearsal" every day... like seeing yourself in your "mind's eye" not as you currently are... as you ideally would like to be. 

These methods... repeated often enough... will begin to "program" the "non conscious" portion of the "mind"... which is the same part of the "mind" that controls your heart beat... digestion and new cell production... all on "automatic pilot." 

In the last decade... neuroscientists discovered that you have the capacity to "create" an almost infinite number of "new neural connections" in your "brain" when you run "new thought patterns." 

The "old neural pathways" are like grooves in a record... and if you are struggling with your health related behaviours or behaviours in any other area of your life... you have been playing the "old records" over and over again. 

If you were to carve a new groove into that record... it would never play the same way again... the old pattern would weaken and the new one would take over. 

Brand new... "positive thoughts... feelings" and "images" begin to "create new neural patterns."

Psychologists estimate that it takes 21 to 30 days to establish a "new pattern" in your "brain." 

During this time... the "focus" on sticking with your "practice" and repeating your "new thought patterns" is critical. 

Is this easy? 

For most people... no it is not. 

In fact... controlling your "thinking" and keeping it "constructive" may be one of the most difficult challenges you have ever faced. 

Fortunately... "writing goals" and "reading affirmations" can help get you started. 

You can take some of the pressure off yourself by simply accepting that negative thoughts and self criticisms will pop up from time to time. 

Just "observe" them... without mulling over them or adding to them.. and "change" the "polarity" of the "thought" by quickly repeating one of your "positive affirmations" or by "changing" your "mental pictures." 

So is there something to this whole "positive thinking" thing? 

The philosophers and theologians have been saying yes for the entire span of recorded history: 

"As you think... so shall you be." 

Variations on this proverb can be found in every spiritual and philosophical tradition. 

And... if you are the "left brained"... you "prove it to me" type... you do not have to go on faith any more. 

Scientists are beginning to prove more and more convincingly that "thoughts" are powerful things. 

So how soon are you going to begin your "mental training" right alongside your "physical training?" 

When are you going to learn how to harness this power locked up inside your mind? 

Guess what? 

You are already using this force every day because you cannot turn it off. 

Whatever you are "thinking" and "picturing" in your "mind" repeatedly on a daily basis is on its way to you already... so it is simply a matter of HOW you are using it... not IF you are using it. 

What do you say to yourself every day? 

Do you say...

"I am becoming leaner... healthier and more muscular every day?"

Or do you say.... 

"I am a fat person... I have tried everything... and nothing ever works?" 

The fact is... you can "think" yourself thin and healthy or you can "think" yourself obese and ill. 

Maybe not in the literal sense... and most certainly as the critical part in the chain of causation. 

You see... there is a lot of talk these days in the personal improvement world about "law of attraction"... manifesting "intention... visualization" and of course "positive thinking" without understanding that there is an orderly and scientific basis underneath all of this... many people will simply remain skeptics... while on the opposite extreme... others may get the idea that you can sit around meditating and visualizing... then expect a mystical "law of attraction" to kick in and then "poof" a great body materializes out of thin air... along with the perfect relationship... a nice bank account and career success. 

That I will say is just "fantasy" and bullshit!

What really happens is "creative positive thinking" and a related "goal system methods" quite literally "re program your brain"... which in turn creates "new behaviours" that move you "physically toward" whatever you have been "thinking" about and "focusing" on. 

So success is achieved through positive thinking + planning + positive doing... attraction + action = acquisition.

Yes... there are many sides to the coin. 

Without paying "attention" to your "thinking... behaviours... actions" you may continue to struggle... often against nothing but yourself. 

If you want to "transform" your body or any other aspect of your life... then you have to "change" on the inside of your "mind" first and then everything else will follow. 

Work "hard" with "focus... persistence" and expect "success." 

You can re wire your own "brain" to acquire anything you set out to do!!

Thank you and may you enjoy a Prosperous and Dynamic day!

Yours Sincerely




Ange is an  Author... Speaker... and Dynamic Peak Performance Personal Development Consultant... and Humanistic Counselling Psychologist who works with men and women on line and real world who desire to "personally develop" themselves and their "relationships" to become Dynamic Lifers... "creators" of their own life and wealth!



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