I've been listening to podcasts, reading studies discussing the way our thoughts and feelings affect our ability to live well and win.
We can direct the outcomes of our lives by changing the way we think and how we feel.
Think better. Feel better. Think like a winner. Feel like a winner. Think kind thoughts. Feel kind feelings. Think thanksgiving. Feel thanksgiving.
I'm on a mental purge this week. What I'm purging: anxiety, impatience and quick-fix solutions. Focusing on the work in front of me, on maintaining a thankful attitude and joy. Lots of joy. (and coffee).
How am I doing this?
There are many ways to do the "how" but I'm focusing on ONE way this week.
Stay in the Beam.
Yep, I'm developing my own principle this week. Here's the process behind the "Stay in the Beam" principle. It's two part.
You gotta get in the mind game with me. Picture yourself walking around with a circular beam enveloping you. It reaches out as far as your arm can reach on all sides and it goes straight up as far as you can see. It's translucent so you can see through it. It moves everywhere you do with a perfect temperature of 70 degrees and a slight breeze.
Part 1: Keep my view up on God. He's not left me in the past and won't in the future. The Bible says "God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind." Another word for sound mind is "self-discipline." I'm banking on that. No to fear. Yes to love, power and a sound mind. A sound mind is a healthy mind- nothing rotting or yucky like negativity, perpetual worry or wallowing in discouragement. This verse greets me in the morning on an index card and I'm thinking about it on morning walk/runs. He does His part if I do mine.
Part 2: Stay in the present. I can't control anything in the past. I really don't know what will happen in the future. But I can focus on today. I can focus on finishing up the organization for the SHINE eCourse that will be traveling to your inboxes in the very, very near future. I can focus on everything I have to be thankful for. There are freelance clients to help and work to do today. I can refuse to complain or meditate on worrying thoughts.
The really fun part: over time the habit of thinking and feeling the good stuff has a lovely benefit, like an apple orchard that finally starts producing golden delicious apples on heavy branches.
It ends up creating a good body of work that will touch people's hearts, minds and souls, the goal of all of us who call ourselves artists.
I think and write about this stuff because I struggle so much with it. I went through a frustrating round of depression in younger years that went on and on like I was a boxer in the ring (the losing one) constantly knocked down. It takes time to heal and retrain the mind from a lot of years of unhealthy thinking, not at all unlike retraining our bodies to endure an intense workout after too much time not exercising.
I don't typically talk too much about spiritual stuff on the Launch Your Creative blog. But I can't talk about a winning mentality without talking about my relationship with God- it's too intertwined and I wouldn't be authentic if I didn't mention it.
What we think is important.
What we feel is important too.
Our thoughts and feelings combine and create our words, facial expressions and ultimately, our ability to create art that touches people.
Think + Feel = Touch
What about you? Do you see a correlation between what you think and feel and the art that you create? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Let's challenge each other this week. Can we see a correlation between what we think, how we feel and how well we produce our art? We can start a discussion stream on this blog post and I'll respond in the comments. I want to hear what you think!
The post How to Think and Feel Your Way to Winning appeared first on Launch Your Creative Life.