You become what you constantly think about.
Have you heard that before? I’ve read it, heard it and viewed it many times and I saw it again this week.
Earlier this week I saw a video on TikTok from a man named Rob Dial. Rob has a podcast called “The Mindset Mentor.” He’s a podcaster, life coach and speaker with millions of followers on social media and this video really caught my attention. I’ve posted it at the end of this column.
He starts by saying, “It’s easy to find a red car. If you’re looking for a red car, you will find it.” I totally agree.
This year I leased a Mazda CX-5. It’s red and since then I have seen a ton of red Mazda CX-5’s on the road. They were probably there all along but I never noticed until I started driving one. Have you ever experienced that? And when one of your friends or children buys a certain car you suddenly see that model everywhere and think it’s them. How many times have I waved and then felt like an idiot. “Oops! Not them!”
Mr. Dial goes on to say, “It’s easy to find the good in the world when you’re looking for the good in the world.”
Hmmm. Is that so?
He continues, “It’s also easy to be mad when you’re looking for reasons to be mad.”
Now that one I do believe.
Have you ever had a bad start to your day? Maybe you overslept or didn’t have time to have breakfast. You stop at Dunkin’ or Starbucks for a morning coffee and they get your order wrong. Or you get a flat tire and have to change it or wait for AAA while it’s raining or cold. You’re mad. You go to work mad and things keep going wrong all throughout your day. Could it be that you are looking for things to be mad at? “I’m mad!” So the universe says, “Ok! Let’s find things that will make him mad. That’s what he wants.”
Or maybe you go online thinking about the latest politician or celebrity that makes your blood pressure rise and that’s all you seem to see. Could it simply be because that’s what you’re thinking of or looking for?
He concludes by saying, “And you have to take a step back and realize that whatever you are searching for … you will find. You become what you constantly think about so you have to make sure to watch your thoughts.
This week I was thinking about the times in my life when I’ve noticed this is true.
Working my early morning radio shift for forty years (give or take), I had plenty of mornings when I was tired. Getting eight hours of sleep was not always possible, especially when the children were younger and they had games or concerts. I would spend plenty of days thinking, “I’m so tired!” Looking back on it, maybe I wouldn’t have felt so bad if I didn’t dwell on it so much. I realize I would still be tired but maybe it wouldn’t have hurt so bad if I didn’t keep thinking about it. Maybe focus on something else.
The same thing is probably true with those of us who experience chronic pain. The pain won’t necessarily go away, but maybe we won’t notice it as much if we turn our attention to something else. Maybe something positive.
I do believe that if we constantly think about our problems we will continue to have problems. Maybe think about solutions? Maybe think about the positive things in our lives in spite of the challenges we face?
As I wrote last week, we always have a choice.
As the new year approaches, or maybe as a new day begins, let’s remember that last line.
“You become what you constantly think about so you have to make sure to watch your thoughts.”
Worth a shot, don’t you think?
Leave a Reply