It’s not always easy to think intentionally. You know you have to change your thoughts. But you don’t yet believe your new thoughts.
Sometimes, you also know that you’re in a funk.
You feel it.
You see it.
You’re not happy about it.
You’re stuck.
And even though you sense that you know what to do…you can’t seem to get yourself to do it.
Or think your way out of it.
This can suck big time.
You might even be aware of the amazing power of mindfulness techniques and strategies.
You’ve accepted that your thoughts create your feelings and ultimately, your outcomes.
You understand that your results prove your thoughts.
You see the thought you need to think to move yourself out of a funk and into the life you want, full of the results and outcomes you want.
But…the NEW thought isn’t yet believable.
You just don’t buy it.
It feels fake.
Like too much of a stretch.
How do you bridge that divide?
How do you get yourself to put your thought energy in the direction you want, into the new thinking that you know will create the life you want?
The answer is to take a baby step with a bridge thought.
A bridge thought is a thought that will be a small step in the right direction and bridge where you ARE to where you want to be, thought-wise.
So, gentle frustrated reader, here are three amazing suggestions to help you. These suggestions came from Brooke Castillo of The Life Coach School. They are as follows:
- I’m open to the idea that….
- I might be wrong that…
- I’m learning to….
Yes….it’s really this simple.
Watch what happens in this example.
Let’s take turning 50.
For many of us, turning 50 is a milestone birthday that is fraught with mixed emotions.
On the one hand, 50 represents a significant milestone worth celebrating. It’s kind of like the gateway birthday that opens the door to the midlife chapter.
On the other hand, some of us make 50 mean a door closing rather than opening.
In midlife, many see opportunities vanishing rather than appearing. Some of us find turning 50 a bit depressing.
What thinking is going on here?
Many of my clients tell me they think: 50 is the beginning of the end.
You’re probably thinking that this is a terrible way to think! I would agree, because when I think this, I feel like crap! WOW, I want to throw in the towel and crawl into a hole.
I want to ditch my tweezers and let my chin whiskers grow because who cares anyway!
And I think I’ll just go put on a pair of terrible worn out underwear that make me look bad AND feel bad while I’m at it too.
Get the picture?
Thoughts create feelings.
The thought my clients usually want to think is: Turning 50 is something to celebrate.
But many don’t believe this thought.
It’s a bit too much of a reach.
This is when a bridge thought is a great idea: I’m open to the idea that 50 isn’t the beginning of the end.
NOTICE how you feel when you think this thought instead? Not as bad, right?
Let’s take being too busy. This is something that many of us can relate to.
When you think you’re too busy, how do you feel?
Probably stressed, rushed and out of control.
In fact, many of us think that being too busy is a fact.
In reality, however, it’s a thought. And it probably doesn’t serve you because of the way it makes you feel.
I bet you don’t want to be too busy.
What if you decided that you wanted to think, “I have just the right amount of time.”
You want to believe this, but you don’t really buy it. You feel resistance.
Enter the BRIDGE THOUGHT.
I’m open to the idea that I have just the right amount of time.
Notice your feelings….
VERY DIFFERENT, right?
How about this bridge thought: I could be wrong that I’m too busy.
Again, check your feelings. When you think this thought, how do you feel?
And my favorite bridge thought: I’m learning to see that I have just the right amount of time.
How do you feel?
In each of these examples, you can see that a bridge thought bridges the great divide between what you currently believe and what you want to believe.
What you currently believe isn’t creating the feelings or results that you want.
You see that what you want to believe WILL.
And now you have a tool to keep you moving in the right direction.
PRACTICE THINKING THESE NEW TWEAKED THOUGHTS.
NOTICE HOW YOU FEEL.
FEEL PROUD OF YOURSELF.
OK…if you’re not there yet, maybe you’re learning to feel proud of yourself!
At least you’re ON TO YOURSELF and you’re getting there.
You have more power than you think.
Thoughts are optional.
You might as well think thoughts that make you feel better!
