The Mind Diet

Spring is a good time for a cleanse and to start a new diet. I know what you’re thinking… another diet? Well, yes, but I’m not talking about a traditional diet for our bodies and restricting the food we eat. Rather, I’m talking about a diet for our minds and the information we feed it.

It’s good to clear out the old thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve us and replace them with fresh, wholesome, thoughts that lift us to our highest ground. As with any diet, awareness is the first step towards success. We first have to be aware of the thoughts we are thinking. What things do you say to yourself? Are you kind, forgiving and loving with your self-talk or are you critical, harsh, impatient or even cruel with the thoughts you have about yourself?

Those negative thoughts are toxic and do not serve us. In fact, they are detrimental to our overall health and those toxic thoughts need to be starved. How do we starve those thoughts? First, I think it’s important that we realize who we are. We are part and parcel of Source… the stuff of God. We are the brilliant offspring of pure potential. Remember Marianne Williamson words, “We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.”

I also recommend using affirmations. When you hear a criticism, accusation or limiting thought enter your mind, acknowledge it and respond to it by saying, “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m not listening to you any longer.”And replace that thought with its opposite. For example, “I’ll never write that book” to “My book is written and on the top 10 best seller list and Oprah will be calling me for an interview any day now.” Say your affirmations out loud. Not only will you feel better, but you’re programming your mind to allow success and victory. Your thoughts will then lead you to the right actions necessary for success.

I love affirmations because they allow us to focus on what we desire instead of what is. I am a big believer because I’ve seen people heal themselves of physical illnesses using affirmations. Imagine a glass full of dirt that you put under a running faucet. Eventually the dirt comes to the top of the glass and spills over, eventually leaving only clean, clear water in the glass. This is the same principle with affirmations. As you continually pour them into your mind, you flush out the old, defeating thoughts. Eventually, you retrain your mind to catch the negative thoughts quickly and replace them with thoughts that serve you instead.

Another tool that I personally use is what I call the best friend test. When I catch myself thinking ugly thoughts, I ask myself, “Now would I want Jessica thinking that thought about herself?” I think we can all agree that the majority of the time, we are much more sensitive about our friends’ and family’s feelings than our own. This is a good way to test your thinking and to remind ourselves to be kind, loving and compassionate with ourselves just as we are with others.

Love and Blessings!
Dawn McIntyre
www.boldlybeautiful.com

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