Life tends to throw us curve balls. When we knock that curve ball out of the park, we are filled with excitement and take pride in our efforts. But when that curve ball zips past you in the batters box and you hear “Strike Three!” yelled from behind you, that’s when shit hits the fan and the remainder of your game is a slippery slope into Loserville.
We’ve all had a day like this. One thing goes wrong, and it sets the tone for a crappy day. Maybe you sat in 10 extra minutes of traffic on the way to work. Maybe you forgot your lunch. Maybe you have a late meeting tonight and you’re going to miss your favorite TV show. Whatever your reason, we tend to allow our brains to dictate our thoughts, moods, and feelings on a regular basis. And as much as we all enjoy blaming external factors, the fact of the matter is, we have no one to blame for these “Negative Nancy” habits except for ourselves.
In my internet travels this week, I came across a site that I would love to recommend to each of you; especially when you’re having a bad day! Pick the Brain is a self-help website that focuses on personal growth and improvement. Most of the posts on PTB are geared toward positivity, confidence, self-empowerment and happiness, but the article that grabbed my eye was about fundamentally training your mind for success. Now, this could potentially sound crazy to some of you; I know a lot of people who would read that sentence and say, “Huh? Train my mind? My mind and my body are hard-wired to make me the man I am today, I can’t just change it now.” But this is simply not true.
Remember in high school when you had a test the next day, and you sat and just re-read the same study guide over and over again until you knew every word on the page? Well, this is a case in point that you can always “re-program” yourself with a dedicated effort. The same goes for diets, fitness, picking up a second language, etc.
The four suggestions to train your brain for success can help you to become a more productive person and to be mindful and present. They are relatively simple principles-
- Don’t let your mind wander and take you with it!
- Gentle repetition goes a long way.
- Recognize your “worries” as thoughts that again are in YOUR control.
- The three-breath rule, three times per day.
Who hasn’t needed to use the three-breath rule when we’ve been fired up? It’s incredible how deep breaths and increased oxygen to the brain can literally influence your nervous system and help you think clearly! Doing this on a regular basis gives you better control of your thoughts and emotions.
I hate to be cliche, but it really is mind over matter! While you’re hitting the gym 4-5 times a week, don’t forget that your noggin’ needs love too. Do a crossword, read a good book, take a seminar at your local college; whatever it is you decide, never stop challenging yourself and the capabilities you (and your mind) have.