THE MENTAL HEALTH CORNER

Mind Power

Mind power is the strongest and most useful power we possess. Mind power comprises our attention, mental images, and thoughts. This power can create success or failure, happiness or unhappiness, opportunities or obstacles. The thoughts that occupy our minds are responsible for almost everything that happens in our lives.

Our thoughts shape our lives.

However, not all thoughts are the same. Weak thoughts that we use once or twice do not represent much. In contrast, powerful thoughts that we repeat multiple times become engrained in our minds and influence our behaviour and attitude, defining our actions and reactions, and shaping our reality.

Our attention, interest, and associated emotions make thoughts powerful.

The problem is that most of us go through life taking little notice of our thinking processes, failing to notice that our brains tend to focus on the negative side of life to the detriment of the positive.

For example:

It is quite common that when we face challenging times, struggle to achieve our goals, and make mistakes, we tend to play back the most detrimental experiences of our lives.

The automatic narrative in our heads immediately jump to ideas like: “I have no chance.”  “I can’t achieve that.” “I am not good enough.” Why should I even try?” “I am a failure.”

If we decide to pay much attention to those thoughts, they will trigger intense unpleasant emotions (e.g. sadness, anger, frustration, distress) and awkward mental images (e.g. humiliating and disastrous scenarios) that in turn will reinforce the negative ideas.

Consequently, we get trapped in the negative loop wasting our precious time and energy dramatizing our problems and miseries rather than looking for solutions.

Changing our mind.

How different our lives would be if instead of focusing on our flaws, we turn our attention to the qualities that make us better human beings. We need to learn to recall those moments when we excelled and succeeded. So, we can visualise how to do it again. 

With positive images in our mind, we will be certain that even when we experience struggles and problems, they will not define us or our lives.

Students, parents, and carers can contact the Psychology Service via email.

psychologist@crcstalbans.com.au

Reference: https://www.uspm.com/practice-the-power-of-positive-thinkinguite common that when we face challenging times, struggle to achieve our goals, and make mistakes, we tend to play back the most detrimental experiences of our lives.

The automatic narrative in our heads immediately jump to ideas like: “I have no chance.”  “I can’t achieve that.” “I am not good enough.” Why should I even try?” “I am a failure.”

If we decide to pay much attention to those thoughts, they will trigger intense unpleasant emotions (e.g. sadness, anger, frustration, distress) and awkward mental images (e.g. humiliating and disastrous scenarios) that in turn will reinforce the negative ideas.

Consequently, we get trapped in the negative loop wasting our precious time and energy dramatizing our problems and miseries rather than looking for solutions.

Changing our mind.

How different our lives would be if instead of focusing on our flaws, we turn our attention to the qualities that make us better human beings. We need to learn to recall those moments when we excelled and succeeded. So, we can visualise how to do it again. 

With positive images in our mind, we will be certain that even when we experience struggles and problems, they will not define us or our lives.