Re-framing your thoughts for mental well-being

We have around 60,000 thoughts a day and these are made up of internal conversations – a dialogue about what we like, what we don’t like, judgement of ourselves and others, what has happened, what’s about to happen. As a neuro-linguistic practitioner, this is what I focus on to facilitate lasting change to thought patterns and habits that can be quite destructive in their outcome; depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship issues, chronic illness to name but a few.

This is because our thoughts shape our behaviours. We are influenced by that inner voice and considering that 10% is what happens to us and 90% is how we process this and choose to respond there is ample opportunity to develop strategies that turn out to be unhelpful.

So how do we change this, if we recognise that our thought processes are destructive and limiting us from having a happy, joyful, successful, peaceful life? Recognition and acceptance is the first step; congratulations if you have achieved this as many people never will. This is the pivotal and empowering place of consciously being able to make a change.

Begin to start to take these easy steps to change the way you think.

Like all thoughts, when you practice them they become easier and then habitual so start by each morning write down 5 things you are looking forward to or are great about your day, these can be really simple things.

This allows you to look forward to things. By doing this it also begins to refocus your thought processes to look for the good things. When practiced this becomes progressively easier as each day you will start to notice that you are looking for those things that are great each day.

Then, before you go to bed, write down 5 things that were great about the day, include those things that you achieved and felt good about. This allows you to sleep thinking positively about the day that you have just had. This alters your neuro-pathways; our minds are wired to make those things we do most often easier to access.