Most of us let ourselves think way too many thoughts, and it’s costing us time we can never get back.
I used the word “let” because it’s easy to forget that we are, in fact, gatekeepers of our minds.
Gatekeepers control access to a person or place they are tasked to protect. They control who or what is allowed to enter or make contact.
When we act as gatekeepers of our mind, we make decisions on the thoughts we let enter and remain in our conscious awareness.
Most of us move through life unaware the role of the gatekeeper exists. We wake up and go about our day, carrying our swirling thoughts with us. And because what we think causes how we feel, it’s easy to see why so many of us are anxious, worried and secretly longing for something different.
When we don’t act as gatekeepers of our mind, we can quickly become overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts and competing desires.
For example, if our desire is to be more fit, we may wish to start working out. Yet when it’s time to go to the gym, we find ourselves making excuses.
“I’ve got too much going on today.”
“I’m too tired.”
“I’ll start going to the gym after I’m in better shape.”
Just this week my brain offered this thought: “Look at those bags under your eyes. You can’t go to the gym looking like that.”
Can you see why the gatekeeper is so important?
If your deepest desire is to get to the gym so you can become stronger and healthier, the gatekeeper would turn away thoughts that create resistance to going.
When my brain tried to argue out of going to the gym the other day because of how I thought I looked, I reminded myself to be my own gatekeeper.
When I’m my own gatekeeper, I’m protecting my deepest desire to become physically and mentally stronger. When I take care of my physical and mental health, I’m able to show up better for myself, my family and my clients.
The thought that got me to the gym that day: “This is just what I do now” (referring to going to the gym without trying to negotiate out of it)
A thought that was turned away by the gatekeeper: “I’ll go to bed early tonight and hit the gym tomorrow”
Our brains are constantly trying to negotiate out of doing things we actually want to do.
Half the battle is remembering that we have the ability to be the gatekeeper.
This is where daily awareness work comes in. We can train ourselves to be aware of our thinking, but we need to take it a step further and remember that our thoughts create our results in life. If we want different results, we need to take an honest look at the thoughts we are letting drive our lives.
Here are some questions you might ask yourself as the gatekeeper of your mind:
Does this thought help me or hurt me?
Does this thought belong in my future?
Will thinking this thought help me create the life I want?
Will holding onto this thought keep me stuck and repeating my past?
Do I love this thought?
Does this thought help me move forward?
Do I want to create success with this thought?
Do I believe this thought?
Does this thought help me do what I need to do?
Does this thought help me become the person I aspire to be?
Here are some additional thoughts to consider:
– You don’t have to believe your thoughts.
– You are not your thoughts. You are the witness or observer of your thoughts.
– Your thoughts can create your greatest suffering but, in turn, they can also create your greatest joy and hope.
If you struggle with procrastination or overthinking, you are letting yourself think too many thoughts.
Remember to act as your own gatekeeper.
Protect what you truly want by choosing thoughts that help you move forward, and give yourself permission to decisively and unapologetically disregard those that hold you back.
Have a great day.
Kari
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