How to Recover from Sloppy Thinking?

Becoming deliberate with your thoughts makes life easier.

Thoughts are real things. And, like all real things, they generate energy: little packets of energy called photons, which are the fundamental particles of light.

We all have been there. You get up in the morning, follow your routinely structured activities, and before making it to breakfast, you found yourself in a crappy mood, not even realizing what might have caused the irritation.

It is a sign you probably suffer from sloppy thinking.

The good news is you are the one who has treated yourself to it, so you are also the one who can save yourself from the misery of it.

Here are some fruitful suggestions which helped me cure my predicament and turn what I have previously labelled as a ‘realistic point of view’ into an optimistic one.

1. Program your mind first thing in the morning.

Upon waking up, enumerate things, people, circumstances you are grateful for. It is a blessing to open your eyes, put your feet on the ground, stretch, exercise. It is a privilege to be alive.

Post notes on walls around your bed with catchy slogans, motivational quotes which energize you, reminders to be thankful for everyday miracles in your life. Those hints train your brain to switch on a positive mindset. They set you up to be on the lookout for blessings by fixing your mind on gratitude throughout the day.

2. Tame the feeling of guilt or resentment when it comes to finances.

Give thanks for every money you are spending, every ticket you get to buy when commuting, every bill you get to pay. If you cannot bring yourself to feel joy or at least peace when paying, don’t.

Find the time to reset your thoughts before the purchase. Set it on gratitude mode by getting off the subject of money. Only when you focus on any good feeling thoughts and ground yourself in them, come back to the transactions, your true intentions behind them. Once you approach the subject with gratitude, you may realize that the worry is entirely worthless or the purchase unnecessary.

3. Approach your mundane tasks anew.

Give thanks for the food you consume. Choose to see your plate through the lenses of abundance.

Feel gratitude for eating fresh and vibrant meals. Having something to put on a plate, the ability to prepare it, is a welfare, not an obligation. Have fun while cooking and arranging the food. Remain mindful while eating, share it with friends and family, throw a feast. Sharing food has been proved to elevate your level of happiness.

4. Breathwork

It is a great tool to stabilize your mood, reset your thoughts and calm down your nervous system. When you focus solely on breath, you have no space for anything else like worry, doubt or negative thinking. It helps to ease the distraction of a wandering mind or multiple thoughts that can increase the heart rate or create anxiety and stress.

The yogic science of breathing, known as pranayama, is a technique of breathing and breath retention. Breathing practices include the observation, control, expansion, retention, and manipulation of the breath. It increases memory, improves circulation and promotes oxygenation of the blood. A recent study showed that “the physical and cognitive benefits associated with yoga and mindfulness may be due to mechanisms including pranayama and activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.”

5. Welcome new energy.

Take a walk in nature. Move your body. Skip, jump, sing. Nature teaches us awareness. We observe. We connect with it and become one.

Connecting with the earthy world bring about many benefits. The Japanese government incorporated ‘forest bathing’ into the country’s health programme. Nature allows our minds to take a break. It does not judge or hinder your growth, nor does it demand. Nature simply exists and allows you to thrive unbothered by any draining thoughts. It always reflects your beauty to you.

6. Preset your mindset on abundance mode.

I cannot stress enough how transforming any thoughts into gratitude improved my life. Whenever I clean the house, I am grateful for having a home to take care of in the first place. Whenever I prepare a meal for somebody, I feel grateful I have a loved one I get to cook for. When you go to the grocery store, focus on the abundance of choices presented to you. Think about people who work here making goods available to you. When you stand in line, appreciate the service, the luxury of choice at your fingertips. When stuck in traffic, listen to uplifting music, favourite podcast or call a friend.

Choose to exercise an appreciative outlook wherever you go. Gratitude literally alters your brain to be happier. External conditions alone do not fill us with gratitude. The perspective which we decide to entertain has the power to transform our attitude.

7. Take away the power of technology over your life.

Whenever you scroll through social media or watch the news, do it mindfully or discontinue it at all, at least until you establish awareness in your daily routine.

Do not get sucked into the virtual world of unrealistic expectations and artificially invoked fears. Do not get engaged mindlessly so that sensationalized broadcasting, staged life on Instagram begin controlling your thoughts and emotions. Ever since I gave up excessive social media engagement, I boosted my levels of confidence. Remain observant of your feelings when interacting with television, shows or any mobile applications. Whenever you feel worse than before the engagement with it, turn off the power of technology. Do not give up control over your life. The power still lies in you.

8. Like attracts like.

Surround yourself with powerful social media accounts, people who support your visions. Follow stories that make you feel good and align with your values. Watch those YouTube videos which carry meaningful messages for you, not because of popular demand. Interact with the positive tribe, who do not bring you down or shame your dreams as unrealistic or unpractical.

9. Be a listener, not a specialist.

When talking with a friend, really give your full attention to the conversation and your thoughts accompanying it. Cease any criticism. The ego thrives on judgement.

Whenever you feel the urge to criticize somebody, close your eyes, observe your reaction. Why do you feel the need to judge? Do not condemn yourself for it, but accept the impulse to do it. Embrace the diversity of the planet and the people living here. Everyone has the right to their own opinions, feelings, and their intention behind every action. For the peace of your mind, allow everyone to be and give up any judgement and rationalizing it. Become present in the conversation. By reaching out to you, your friend wants to communicate his/her feelings, not to make herself/himself feel worse.

10. Switch off your analytical thinking.

Meditate. Engaging in daily meditation practice, whether it be for a quick five minutes in the morning or a lengthier hour in the evening, does incredible things for the human mind. It modifies the way your body responds to stress, quieting mental chatter, improving focus, and increasing self-esteem and feelings of confidence.

Whenever you feel low, drained of energy, tempted to destructive thoughts full of self-doubt, find your quiet space and meditate. Focus on your breathing, turn on slow music or sounds of nature, accept racing thoughts by becoming aware of them. Give your racing mind a break. Clarity helps you find solutions to everything.

11. Follow the path of the least resistance.

What brings you joy?

Do it.

Is it dancing? Do it in the kitchen. Who cares if your partner minds your positive vibes. Is it switching to aeroplane mode on your phone? Do it. You have the right to be unavailable for as long as it makes you feel productive. Is it drinking coffee all alone first thing in the morning? Do it. Who cares if you skip breakfast this time. Is it painting? Do it. No matter what your family may say or how much they criticize the activity. Nobody is allowed to diminish someone else’s dreams. Do what makes you feel joy, step out of your routine once in a while, let the energy flow in unexpected directions.

What it all boils down to is awareness. Being attentive to your thoughts and intentions will open up tremendous opportunities for your life to unfold in unbelievable courses.

Presence leads us to gratitude. Once we start appreciating life, we find its meaning. When you mindfully create beautiful thoughts inside your head, happiness joins them organically. You were never meant to chase happiness. You were meant to open up doors for it to flow effortlessly into your path.

Thank you for reading!

I write to empower and inspire with self-love. Your biggest strength lies in your authenticity, so embrace the whole package. Wear your unique attitude proudly.