CHOOSE CAREFULLY

At first, I thought this was a mind-bending concept. How can I possibly go about weeding thoughts? It sounded exhausting and confusing.

Here's the thing - not all thoughts are created equal. Some thoughts are based on facts, others on fiction - stories we make up. As we deepen our inner growth, we begin to be skilled at differentiating between what's "real" and what assumptions we make.

One way to think about it is to take your thoughts through a simple filter: how does this thought make me feel? Does it give me energy, or does it deplete me?

Then, ask yourself:

How do I know this thought represents facts, reality?

What else might be at play?

If there was a wider perspective I could take, what would it be?

If I was to challenge myself here, what would I be willing to believe?

How might this thought affect my actions, how I interact with others?

So often we jump to conclusions out of the desire to be right; to boost our ego; to feel better about ourselves; to avoid taking action; to avoid doing the hard things, etc.

These exercises help us know ourselves better, boosting our self-awareness, a key building block of our Emotional Intelligence. They are also helpful in uncovering some of our blind spots, and in flexing our self-coaching muscles.