The Courage to Be You

THE "E" in S-T-R-I-V-E

"E" is for EXPERIENCE - as in "living out" the new thought in your mind. You'll need to go back several posts to understand the whole S-T-R-I-V-E concept if you're just joining the blog.

Let's use judging as an example. I'm a big judger from the past and frequently need to stop this particular thought pattern. In trying to buy health insurance and having a difficult time of it, I'm judging the whole situation as very frustrating, extremely time consuming, and the companies involved as complete idiots (not a judgment as much as straight reality). When I get to the truth, replace judging with understanding a much bigger picture, invite it in, visualize, then I'm ready to EXPERIENCE.

I actually see in myself after completion experiencing greatly reduced stress, a deep peace, and even smiling at how smoooothly I handled it all. I EXPERIENCE the joy in the wisdom I've gained and the opportunities created from this new knowledge. I experience the confidence built in overcoming such a dreaded and dreadful task. EXPERIENCE is the ahhhhh, the victory celebration of the whole process.

The "V" in S-T-R-I-V-E

V is for Visualize. Close your eyes and vividly see yourself stopping the unhealthy thought, finding the truth, replacing the old with the truth,  and inviting the new healthy thought to become part of you.

Visualization is an important in most anything we wish to accomplish successfully. Great gymnasts visualize themselves performing the perfect routine by going through each movement in their mind's eye. It's my understanding the mind believes what it sees and doesn't know any difference between "real" and perceived. This helps establish in our mind the change we desire.

If you are like me, you will need to use S-T-R-I-V-E many different times to stop a negative, unhealthy thought. Just keep at it; over and over and over. Don't get discouraged. It takes time to break old habits.

Ultimate Living List

I finally realized I needed a list; yes another list in my life. But this list is the best of all. I typed a handful of thoughts and emotions I want to be in/out of my life. Why? Focus. I know I need to focus on these everyday, if they are going to become truths in my life. I want ultimate living.

Worry is on my list. I've made huge progress in my life against this beast, but he's still lurking in my neighborhood. I'm going to force him to move away. Here's what I do. In my mind, I replace worry with trust and actually feel the lightness, happiness, and energy of being worry free. I can sense the pressure and heaviness lifting from my heart. And, I visualize using S-T-R-I-V-E against the first sign of worry.

I keep the list with my morning reading to review it daily and put it in God's hands. List items are generally old enemies of ours. It takes persistence to conquer them. Don't give up. Become the awesome person you are intended to be.

The "I" in S-T-R-I-V-E

"I" is for Invite. Our goal is to stop an unhealthy thought in its tracks. After we've Stopped (S) it, found the Truth (T), and Replaced (R) the bad thought, go ahead and literally Invite the truth into your mind. Welcome it with open, loving arms. Show Truth the home you've reserved for it; right where the old unhealthy thought was.

It's a game I know, but our mind and ego want control- even demand  control - so we must do all we can to take charge. I find it is also beneficial in creating the "new you" in your mind. You won't be the same person when you start to replace old worn-out thinking with what is really right and true. Welcome to your new world. You'll love it!

The R in S-T-R-I-V-E

R stands for REPLACE. If we replace the unhealthy thought with the truth, the second step of S-T-R-I-V-E, a foundation is built to move forward. Replacing the old fat filled thinking, is like turning to face the opposite direction. We can't be looking forward and backward at the same time. Looking forward empowers us. Looking backward zaps our energy.

If, however, we focus on fixing our unhealthy thoughts, we get caught up in the old and what is wrong. You can paint a snake to change it, but it's still a snake. Our attempt to fix wrong thinking is like the painted snake. So replace unhealthy thoughts rather than repair.

The "T" in S-T-R-I-V-E

"T" stands for TRUTH. Failure to recognize and face the truth is one of the most common blocks to personal growth. Recognizing truth is not as simple as it seems, particularly when the lies of our past are involved. Like the voice of our internal judge that says, "You're no good," or "You can't do that."

Another source of lies are in our everyday stresses. Driving yesterday I encountered extreme road rage. The guy passed me on the double yellow and then tried several times to get me to rear-end him. Sad thing, I don't have a clue what I did to cause his outburst. (Am I that old? Is it time to move to Florida and drive slow?) Of course I wanted to explode back, but looked for truth.

Truth is, his anger is all about his problems. Whatever I did, was not done on purpose or to harm him. The truth is if I let it ruin the rest of my day, then that's my decision. The truth freed me from my emotions - and I sure needed that.

S in S-T-R-I-V-E

S stands for STOP. Recognize and STOP that negative thought - now! We can stop them too. Much of the time we allow our thoughts to run wild in our head. I call it "Monkey Minding." Our mind swings from thought to thought like a monkey on a vine in the forest.

One person suggested saying STOP out loud and stomping a foot. We need to let our mind know we are serious. We are in charge. We don't have to "be" our minds and go wherever they wish to swing. Our minds are a part of us. They don't have to define us.

In the beginning we'll need to use STOP more than once on the same thought. Try it soon. It really does work.

S-T-R-I-V-E

STRIVE is my acronym for stopping lard thinking; fat filled and totally unhealthy thought patterns. I need a system to break these long time thinking habits, so that I can replace them with new, healthy ones. Maybe this will help you too:

• S = STOP - recognize and stop the thought in it's tracks. Say STOP to yourself.
• T = TRUTH - look for the deep truth. Most of our lard thinking is based on lies. The truth will set  us free.
• R = REPLACE - we must replace the unhealthy with healthy. We can't fix or change the lard thought into olive oil.
• I = INVITE - picture yourself inviting your new thought into your mind and heart. Actually welcoming it as it replaces the old.
• V = VISUALIZE - close your eyes and vividly see yourself doing the S-T-R-I parts from above.
• E = EXPERIENCE - feel what it would be like to already be living this new habit as your default. Experience in your mind the calming, stress-free feelings you would enjoy.

I will discuss each one of these in more detail in the upcoming posts. And remember, it takes a good 60 days of this to breakdown the lard.