“Your thoughts determine your character.”
How do the words above resonate with you?
Pause here for a moment and free yourself from distractions:
Take a deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
Reading Maxwell this morning focused my attention on character and the power of ones’ thoughts.
The lesson title is a call to action: “Guard Your Thinking”
character /noun/:
the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.
the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves : someone's personality. : a set of qualities that make a person different from others.
thought /noun/:
an idea or opinion produced or occurring suddenly in the mind.
What are you thinking? ...at this very moment... what are your thoughts..?
Maxwell’s message is paraphrased from Proverbs 23:
Be careful of your thoughts; they may break into words at any time.
The first person you lead is you, and the first organ you master is your mind.
Discipline your thoughts to remain steadfast in what you know is right.
And, this reminder from Iyanla Vanzant:
The universe has wisely provided us with the most important things in life-the air to breathe, the sun to warm and nurture, the abundant beauty of nature, and the opportunity to choose.
Thoughts have power. It is important to guard them. Don't ignore them. Acknowledge them. When you find your thoughts leading toward a negative path intentionally make a shift. Choose to be positive.
This practice is not always easy and requires practice. Check out these tips to get you started
5 Ways to Guard your Mind against Negative Thoughts (by Deepak Rajpal on (successconsciousness.com)
1. Avoid too much TV and Social Media: Set a limit and leave it to do something different and something creative. Life keeps going, and time will never come back. Use it, rather than just passing it.
2. Stay away from negative people: Boundaries are your choice. Negative people. love to talk about other’s shortcomings, as in that way, they can hide their own for a while. Instead, look inside of you, and work on yourself.
3. Don’t criticize others: We all get caught up sometimes. When some are complaining about any celebrity, politician, or even neighbors, we immediately join them. Negative thoughts snowball. Be conscious of this and stop yourself.
4. Keep yourself busy with something positive: Use your time instead of just passing it. Examples: When you have time to spare, read a book you have been wanting to read, which may sharpen your skills or help you improve. Stuck in traffic, listen to a podcast on your favorite subject. Not only are you using that time to grow yourself, but you are also guarding your mind from the negativity around you because your mind will be focused on something else.
5. Take a pause, think and then respond: No matter how much we filter information, we grab something negative here and there. This can instantly reflect in our activities. But it is not mandatory to go with the flow. It is always your decision how you respond. Always take a pause, think positively, and then respond. Always be positive, think positive and act positive.
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.” – Buddha
Today's Challenge: From "Acts of Faith" by Iyanla Vanzant
Affirm: All that I am owed comes to me by choice
Name three things you owe yourself that you are willing to give to yourself today.
Use your time wisely. Don't miss your opportunity.
What are you willing to do to become more conscious about guarding your thoughts? Its up to YOU! Your choice...
Be intentional. Encourage others to do the same and watch what happens.
You got this!
Coach Tavia
#honoryourself, #learnandgrow, #selfawareness, #selfimprovement, #selfcompassion, #focus, #shift, #bepositive, #guardyourtboughts, #trustyourself, #dothework, #shareyourgifts, #releaseyourpower, #yourchoice, #knowyourworth, #leadbyexample, #justdoit, #lifecoach, #leadershipcoach, #leadershipdevelopment, #letsgo
References:
Maxwell, John C. Leadership Promises for Every Day; Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN. 2003
*Vanzant, Iyanla; Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color. Atria, New York, NY 2020.
**Vanzant, Iyanla; Until Today: Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind. Atria, New York, NY 2020.
5 Ways to Guard your Mind against Negative Thoughts
Commentaires