The brain is a wonderful, weird and miraculous organ.
We still understand so little about it, however we do know that we have the power to work with it and even alter its current structure and function.
We are brought up to believe certain things and very often if we get told something enough or we hear something enough we deem it to be the truth. However what I have found on my journey is that a lot of our thought patterns can keep us stuck. We need to challenge them and get out of our own way. Have you ever said any of the following??
1. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME
This is one of the most common excuses I hear for not doing things and putting a plan in place. A lot of people don’t get travel insurance because things never happen to them or health insurance because they are young or have never been ill. None of these illusions protects you from a freak accidents or illness. When we travel we can get robbed, delayed and ill and none of these things might be our fault. It’s a nice fantasy to think that things won’t happen to us but taking steps ‘just in case’ makes life so much easier if something does happen. You will be supported and protected and take it from me when you are abroad and something happens there is no better feeling than feeling safe especially when the bills rack up.
2. THERE’S NOT ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE
This is an interesting myth that we have been brought up with leading us to become selfish and panicked accumulating as much as possible as quickly as possible. How much do we need? When do we hit the stage of ENOUGH? We are enough and we have enough as we are. It’s only when we realise this truth can we live a fulfilled life.
3. WORKING LONG HOURS MEANS I’LL BE MORE SUCCESSFUL
The disease of being busy has taken over the world leading us to be brainwashed into thinking that the more hours we give the better we are and the more successful we will become. We now have lots of research that points to less is more especially when it comes to work. We need to balance our life with family and fun and recharge our batteries with great sleep and brain breaks throughout the day at work. Stop, step back and reassess to make real progress.
4. I DON’T HAVE TIME
The famous ‘I don’t have time’ and ‘you don’t realise how busy my life is’ myth. I used to say this all the time but the reality is that we all have the same 24 hours in a day and we will ALWAYS find time for what is important. We find time for what we value and a good exercise here is to write down your top values in life and see if you are living by them. If not maybe it’s time you made time for what truly matters to your heart.
5. I CAN EAT AND DRINK WHAT I WANT AS I’M NEVER ILL
Well good for you- For now! It’s true many of us can get away with bad lifestyle habits for decades but it does catch up on you. If you have a family dependant on you and people you love I believe it’s our responsibility to try and be as healthy as possible for them ensuring we are around as long as possible. Very often disease is brewing in our bodies for many years before we even notice or get symptoms. Lack of sleep, bad food, too much alcohol and burning the candle at both ends never ends well!