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"What you find in your mind is what you put there.  Put good things in there.."  -- Mary Ford

7/10/2018

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I've been thinking a lot these days about the power of using mental images when facing physical challenges.  I do it a lot when I am physically uncomfortable during exercise.  I think about athletes I admire, I visualize being an ass-kicker in whatever mode of exercise I am engaged in.

These same techniques for other kinds of discomfort.  When I am facing a difficult conversation, when I need take a professional risk that takes me a mile or so outside of my comfort zone.

If I can push through - no, if I can MASTER - moments of real physical discomfort with the use of words, mental pictures and breath, why can't I master just as effectively the real life moments of challenge and discomfort by using my mind and my breath? 

While teaching a group exercise class recently, I had participants use long stretches of cardio work to create change in their minds.  Before we started the physical work, I asked them to picture in their mind's eye a particular challenge they recently faced or are about to face.  I asked them to use the intensity of the cardio work to facilitate a movie in their minds.  I encouraged them to be the director of that movie, to write a script and direct themselves to be their perfect, their best self.  Watch it play out in your head, I instructed.  Picture yourself in that challenging situation and handling it beautifully, masterfully...

​By directing these moments in our mind, by using mantras regularly to keep our minds focused on where we want them to be instead of the default of negativity and self-judgement, we create little changes on a daily basis.  And these changes in our minds begin to manifest as changes in our thoughts, in our actions and in the way we see the world around.

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1 Comment

    Glad you are here!

    Visit my blog to find common sense tips and food for thought about how to jump on - and STAY on - the road to physical and mental health!

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