CHATTER CHANGE
“Relax”
“Don’t think like that”
Having people tell you to relax or think differently is almost as frustrating as trying to get the plastic wrap off the newspapers in the morning.
Constant headchatter about the negative things going on in our lives can be debilitating.
In our Seven Small Free Acts you would have seen the quote from Dr. Joe Dispenza who says we think somewhere between 60,000 to 70,000 thoughts a day and 90% of these are the same as the day before.
And then what? We expect change.
Dispenza says “the reason change is so hard for us is because our repetitive thoughts are a conscious and unconscious process that keeps our biology unchanged. Neither your brain nor your body changes because you’re thinking the same thoughts, performing the same actions, and living by the same emotions—even if you secretly hope your life will change. You can’t change your life until you change your thoughts.”
Do not despair. There is an amazing area of science that is breaking ground on how we can change our behavioural patterns and even our genetics.
It is called Epigenetics. This exciting area of science is proving we are able to scientifically alter many of our genes regardless of what has been handed down to us by previous generations.
According to Dispenza, “Recent studies have shown that approximately 90% of our genes are affected by our experiences.” The good news is that we have an incredible amount of influence on both our own and our employees’ health and wellbeing at a deeper long lasting level.
Last week, I was conducting a personal branding workshop for a group of employees when one of them pulled me aside at the end of session and asked how he could step up and perform at the high ability he knows he is capable of. He knew his negative thoughts were limiting his performance.
I shared some powerful scientific research behind epigenetics and our ability to create behavioural change. Here are three Small Act Major Impact steps suggested to start activating his and now your positive self-stories.
Use stopping. When you have a recurring negative thought. Say the word Stop. Say it out loud or quietly. It doesn’t matter. It will interfere with the thought pattern.
When the “I can’t” or “that’s not fair” scenarios start playing around in your head, replace them with the “I can” thoughts. Remember when we were kids and our parents would distract us from something dangerous by directing us to a new activity. This is the same idea.
Choose positive words and circuit breaker activities such as getting up from your desk or going for a walk.
By acknowledging the impact epigenetics can play on permanently changing your behaviours and genetics, you will empower yourself in a positive way. For centuries we have been told, we are what we think. Epigenetics is showing we can achieve this in a scientifically tangible way.
In the words of the famous poet Ralph Waldo Emerson,
“You are what you think about all day”.