Renovating a single room or an entire building is hard work. It takes time, muscle power, 100% investment of oneself into planning the renovation, tearing down and eliminating old structures, and building the new. It is definitely not something achieved overnight or alone.
Habitual thinking patterns that cause intense feelings of fear, anger, shame or guilt are not only toxic, but also addictive because they stimulate the pleasure and learning centers of the brain, similar to addictive substances.
The amazing thing is that our brain is wired to produce change; it is a constant in the brain, as it is in life. Change involves learning, and all learning generates physical changes in the brain. When you replace a behaviour, such as a toxic thinking pattern, your actions produce a physical neuro-chemical and molecular change in cells known as neurons.
Some say it takes 21 days, some 66 days; others say a year to change one’s thinking, which in turn changes behaviour. Perhaps the focus shouldn’t be on the length of time it might take – but on a commitment to start and gathering tools for the process.
1. In a journal write down areas in your life that are triggers leading to what you can identify as toxic thinking.
2. Focus on just one area and develop a plan/strategy to think differently when faced with those triggers.
3. Get an accountability partner who can encourage/support you in your journey.
5. Keep journaling your progress, no matter how small, and don’t beat yourself up if you’re not moving forward in leaps and bounds. Change is a journey not a sprint.
6. Most importantly, celebrate your successes along the way.
There is no better time than today to begin - Seize the day, renovate your mind, and eradicate toxic thinking.
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