Where do your thoughts take you?

Thoughts are such powerful things. The creativity behind our thinking leads us to wonderful possibilities and horrifying fears and concerns creating an inner world that can seem more real than what is actually happening externally in any given moment. The way our brains are wired when you have a thought you will notice similar or related thoughts will follow.  This is why one particular idea can lead you to a chain of different thoughts which your mind associates with your original or subsequent thoughts.  This can be very helpful when you are trying to brainstorm but it can cause sleepless nights when you start to worry.

When I think about having a “normal” life, settled down with kids the way many of my friends live, it can make me sad. It may start me thinking about not having my own children or maybe I will be reminded of the way my marriage ended.  Then again, when I think about the life I actually live, what I have to give to others and how much my life has improved since my marriage ended, I feel grateful and excited. What I focus on makes all the difference and an awareness of where my thoughts are leading me can help me take control of this mental process.

“We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them” This is a famous quote from Albert Einstein which highlights the fact that when we keep our thoughts focussed on our problems we will remain stuck there.  Thinking about solutions and opportunities will activate your creative processes and allow you to see beyond your problems. The same is true when thinking about what you are grateful for rather than all the things that you are unhappy with. This can be difficult because our brains are also wired to pay attention to potential dangers or problems. Exposing ourselves too much negativity such as daily news or too much time with negative people, will make it even more difficult to focus our thoughts on productive, problem-solving ideas. When you are aware of this you can change what you expose yourself to and what you focus your attention on. This will help you control where your thoughts take you.