Words that help, words that hinder. Actions of initiative or inaction that leads to paralysis. 

When we’re troubled or uncertain, what makes things better and what makes us fall back into cycles of negative thinking?

We’re programmed to ride the wave of our emotions, to continue patterns we’re used to without considering the many things we could do that are far more helpful to our state of mind.

Knowing the strategies which help you confront fear and uncertainty, and being cognizant of those things that don’t serve you in moments where you need clarity, is a very useful tool that we don’t normally consider. 

For example, phrases that remind me of imminent future fears, “Turning over subconscious thoughts in your mind will help them manifest in reality” do not serve me in moments of uncertainty. If I’m thinking negatively about something, the awareness of the fact that it’s more likely to happen if I’m thinking about it incessantly, is not a helpful construct. So I don’t read or listen to those things that remind me of it. In those moments, something uplifting or that gives me hope for the future, something positive, which reminds me of the potential I have inside works much better. 

Get to know the things that work for you specifically.  Remind yourself of them and don’t expect them to work for the person next to you, or your husband, or your best friend. Seek out and use the tools that work for you.  You’ll be happy you did.

Two statements: same words, different lessons.

“Good is the enemy of great” and “Great gets in the way of good.”

If you operate at a good level and aren’t interested in overcoming the inertia it takes to be great, you’ll fall under the first category.

If you’re operating at a great level, but allow every detail to hold you back from sending out the things you’ve built, you’re in the second category.

The solution to the first problem (though it doesn’t feel like a problem) is to wake up. Turn on your antennae and wake up to life. Tune into the people, places, and things that inspire you, speak to your heart, and realize that you don’t have to be like everyone else. Mediocrity is everywhere and if you’re not careful about tuning in to the right frequencies, you’ll be left with white noise.

The solution to the second problem (it’s a problem though it doesn’t feel like it) is to turn off your censor. Fool it and tell it to go for a walk, that you won’t do anything while it’s gone. When it leaves, accomplish every last thing you haven’t allowed yourself to do while you worried about the details while it was standing behind you.

Tune in. Then, once you’re at the right frequency, tune out.