Your Thoughts Are Your Reality: How to Harness Their Power for Positive Change
Have you ever stopped to consider the thousands of thoughts racing through your mind each day? What if I told you these aren't just random mental chatter, but the very architects of your reality? Whether you realize it or not, your thoughts are actively shaping your life experience—either building you up or holding you back.
The Science Behind Your Thoughts
Here's something that might surprise you: the average person has over 80,000 thoughts per day. Even more shocking? Neuroscientists estimate we're only consciously aware of our thoughts and actions about 5% of the time. This means we're essentially operating on autopilot for 95% of our day, letting our subconscious mind run the show.
Think about those times you've driven to work and forgotten the route you took, or when you've eaten an entire sleeve of Oreos while watching TV without even realizing it. That's your autopilot in action.
But here's where it gets interesting: research suggests that around 80% of our daily thoughts tend to be negative or self-critical. This isn't because we're naturally pessimistic—it's actually an evolutionary trait that helped our ancestors survive.
The Negativity Bias
Imagine this: You're living thousands of years ago as a hunter-gatherer. You're gathering berries in the forest when you hear rustling in the bushes. Your brain immediately assumes danger—it could be a predator! This instinctive negative assumption kept our ancestors alive.
Fast forward to today: we're not running from predators anymore, but our brains still operate with that same wiring. Now, instead of physical threats, we're hyper-focused on things like:
An angry email from your boss
A critical comment on social media
That nagging thought that you're not good enough
Your Brain's Bouncer: The Reticular Activating System (RAS)
Think of your RAS as your brain's personal bouncer, deciding what information gets through and what doesn't. Whatever you focus on, your RAS will find more evidence to support it. This means if you're constantly thinking "I'm not good enough," your brain will diligently gather evidence to prove that thought right.
The good news? You can retrain your RAS to focus on the positive. Just like you can suddenly notice every red SUV on the road after deciding you want one, you can train your brain to spot evidence of your worth and capability.
Your Voice: The Magic Wand You Didn't Know You Had
As Bruce Lee wisely said, "Don't speak negatively about yourself, even as a joke. Your body doesn't know the difference. Words are energy and cast spells. That's why it's called spelling."
Your voice is quite literally your magic wand, casting spells that shape your reality. The words you speak—especially to yourself—have incredible power to reshape your neural pathways and, consequently, your life experience.
5 Practical Steps to Harness Your Thought Power
Develop Awareness Start by simply noticing your thoughts. Throughout the day, pause and ask yourself, "What's going on in my mind right now?"
Challenge Negative Thoughts When you catch negative thoughts (psychologists call them ANTs - Automatic Negative Thoughts), challenge them. Just like one ant won't ruin a picnic but a swarm will, catch these thoughts early.
Use Daily Affirmations Create positive statements that align with who you want to become. Say them out loud with conviction—remember, you're casting spells!
Practice Self-Compassion Speak to yourself as you would a dear friend. Would you criticize a friend for making a simple mistake? Extend that same kindness to yourself.
Visualize Success Combine your positive words with vivid visualization. When you state an affirmation, close your eyes and feel it as if it's already true.
Your Weekly Challenge
Start paying attention to your inner dialogue. Notice which thoughts keep repeating in your mind. Are they building the life you want, or are they holding you back? When you catch yourself in a negative thought loop, remember: you have the power to change the narrative.
Remember, a belief is just a thought you keep thinking until it sticks. Make sure the thoughts you're repeating are ones that serve your highest good.
Ready to dive deeper into transforming your thought patterns? I offer two transformative programs to support your journey:
🌟 Peace and Purpose Program: A guided journey to help you release limiting beliefs and step into your most authentic, confident self.
🌟 Healing Through the Chakras: A self-paced course that combines energy work with mindset transformation, allowing you to heal and grow at your own rhythm.
Lisa Kern is a holistic therapist and Reiki master helping women transform their lives through the power of positive mindset and energy work.
Prefer to listen? Tune into the full podcast episode of Reiki Body Mind Radio where we dive even deeper into thought power and practical transformation techniques.