How to STOP Energy Sapping Stinkin' Thinkin' Self-Sabotaging Thoughts

By Lori Bestler-America’s Positive Thinking Expert

Learn F.I.T. (Focused Interruption Training), a special technique taught at our MindScapes Unlimited Center which uses both Coaching and Hypnosis for changing negative thought patterns that keep you up at night and obstruct you from being your best self daily; healthy, happy, and living your ideal life NOW!

We all grow up learning not to interrupt others who are talking. It's rude, right? Wrong.  Sometimes interrupting is right, necessary and essential for positive growth.  Learn when and how to interrupt--at the right times, for the right reasons.

Far too often, we fall into mind traps, a series of routine thought patterns that keep us stuck in the same paralyzing stinkin’ thinkin’ rut. If you learn to listen and hear yourself talk, you'll soon recognize your habitual thought patterns at work in all areas of your life. Soon your full of Worry and Doubt, Anxiety and Stress, and Procrastinate due to Fear or Discomfort.  Our mind is a repeater because it makes thinking easier and more efficient, but it isn't always effective.

Our thinking pattern can often be described like being a hamster running on a wheel, your moving, but going nowhere exhaustively fast.

Thoughts and beliefs create feelings, and feelings affect our body, behavior and actions. If your habitual thought pattern is one of self doubt, negativity, fear, etc., then the feeling generated by those thoughts will be disempowering and energy draining in your life.  The actions you in turn take may be sabotaging your ability to achieve goals. When you learn how to develop thoughts that are energizing and more useful, you create habitual thoughts, feelings & behaviors that bring you joy, confidence, and more--in other words, you are getting what you want in life; good health, happiness and success.

When you aren't getting the results you want in life, you often find yourself behaving in self-sabotaging ways that hinder goal achievement (procrastination, avoidance, etc.).  If this describes you then interrupting can be an answer that helps you with positive change! To change, you need to learn to interrupt and replace your thoughts.

I teach my F.I.T. technique to most of my clients and in workshops. Learning this technique begins with observation. Learn to be aware of your thoughts.  You can recognize them by how you feel.  When you feel the uncomfortable, heavy or anxious feelings you want to be free from do the following:

1.  Say in your mind “Stop It!  Imagine seeing a stop sign in your mind.  See it flash "Stop it" three times. 

2.  With your left hand, pretend that you're crumpling those words up on a piece of paper, and then tossing those thoughts away in the trash basket, and as you do say, "LIE." 

3.  Start Over.” Tell youself that when you’re thinking in a self-sabotaging way, those thoughts are useless. The fact is that they are energetically draining and causing you stress and unrest.  You must literally interrupt yourself. Say to yourself "STOP It!" and then Start Over by replacing that negative thought with a useful and positive thought; opposite of what you were thinking.

For example, if you’re once again avoiding a project or procrastinating, (behavior), check in with your feeling(s) (feeling incompetent, intimidated, fearful, or anxious) and trace those feelings back to where they came from.   Maybe you’re thinking, "I never complete these tasks well or on time; my work is never good enough." Then interrupt those thoughts and immediately tell yourself STOP It! I suggest even putting your hand out like you would signal to someone “STOP” and shout it out too if you keep on thinking those stinkin’ thinkin’ thoughts over and over and over again.  Really focus your attention on this. 

Far too often we generalize and magnify our feelings, as if we ALWAYS make mistakes, or Never do it right.  We easily blow things out of proportion when things are not easy or going our way.  Life happens!  Put your thoughts at rest and take charge.  Stop negative thinking in its tracks before destructive thought patterns take over your life.

Think about the outcome you want. With every statement you think, raise you right hand, from resting at your side, up and off to the side, higher and higher with each declaration.

"I CAN complete projects on time

Affirm truth; I HAVE in the past achieve what I've never done before

Commit; I will complete this project on time

Envision; I can see myself completing the project on time and feel how good it feels to have done that. 

Do it; and now do it so you can say I DID! complete a project on time.(Raising your fist up to the sky, as if to say "Victory is mine!"

Visualize yourself completing the project the way you want to and the result: happy boss, happy you, promotion, respect from co-workers, etc.

Couple this strategy with a quick check-in on your posture--physiology is very connected to your emotions. Stand straight, look up, and smile.

Over time, you will get better at anything with practice.  You will catch yourself thinking the useless thoughts more quickly, and soon be able to interrupt them immediately. In no time at all you'll find the need to interrupt negative thoughts happening less and less, as your brain/mind learns to route your thought pathways to new neural patterns--the positive thoughts you are training yourself to have.

Good article to read:  30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

Get F.I.T today. 

If you would like more information about individual or group Focused Interruption Training contact Lori Now.

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Lori Bestler is a Motivational Speaker and Strategic Mind Coach with MindScapes Unlimited Hypnosis Coaching Center in Stillwater, MN.  She specializes in working with Entrepreneurs and Ambitious Professionals with busy minds who often struggle with stress, anxiety, lack of focus and follow through, procrastination, and negative thinking.  She also helps clients in the areas of Goal Achievement, Weight Loss, and Smoking Cessation.  Ms. Bestler is the founder and president of 4 Dynamic Women; a motivational speaking company. She has personally spoken to over 17,000 men and women in various venues helping them to successfully make positive life changes and unleash their full potential.

 For more information about Motivational Speaking or Coaching call Lori at 651-464-9034.  Free ½ hour phone consultations available too.  CONTACT LORI NOW.

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