I was reminded yesterday of the power of our language and how it can have a direct impact on our brain and our experience of life.
In client sessions we will look at how the client’s future looks when the “problem” is no longer there. We create a perfect image of the future that the brain can embrace and start to make manifest. All imaginary, of course, but just as powerful.
What I often find is that when we first start this process the client will articulate all the things that they won’t want it to be like:
“I won’t be waking in the night”
“Not eating sugary foods mindlessly”
“I won’t be fat”
“Not as grumpy”
“Not stressed anymore” etc etc
So you can start to see the problem. We are still indirectly focusing on the “problem” and not the solution. And the more we focus on the problem the more it is reinforced and the harder it becomes to move forward in the direction of choice.
It can be really hard to switch things around in the beginning. We are creatures of habit, and our brains like to be problem focused; after all it’s what they do best to ensure our survival. The more we focus on the problem the bigger it tends to get. The brain will encourage you to focus on it, obsess over it, magnify it, and create an entirely negative picture which in turn warrants negative experiences; anxiety, stress, anger, depression, OCD to name a few. All are part of our natural survival instinct.
So what do we need to do?
Create the image of how we want it to be with positive self affirming statements;
“I will be happy”
“I will be relaxed and calm”
“I am fit and healthy”
“I will be rested after a good night’s sleep”
This positive speak utilises the pre frontal cortex (our control centre) which in turn enables us to move forward with clarity of thought, with motivation (although I often won’t use this word as I interpret it as meaning that the path forward could be a challenge, which for some is far too big an ask), with control; All the things that enable us to be the person that we wish to be. Able to make our preferred future our reality.
