There is a story running through our mind. We are the protagonist of this tale. How do we describe our character?  These thoughts shape our narrative. On average, 30,000 thoughts cross our mind each day. 30,000. Are they serving us well? How many of those are bringing us closer to our goals and making our dreams a reality?

Activity follows Identity

It’s very hard to act opposite to your narrative. When I feel stuck in a certain area, the first thing I consider is the narrative running through my mind. Sometimes I realize that 80% of the thoughts regarding that issue are counterproductive. No wonder I am struggling for my action to line up with my goals, when my mind is running a negative loop.

If your narrative is: I’m am an overweight, tired, pastry loving person. How natural is it going to be to haul that tired, slightly large bum of yours to the gym after a long day at work? What are kind of leading character are your thoughts creating?

I am starting to get back in shape after having my baby. I have spent a fair amount of time rebuilding a positive narrative, because I was finding other thoughts sneaking in. Things like this.

“I just can’t carve out time to work out with 5 little kids. This is a crazy expectation.”

“This is so much harder now that I’m in my 30’s. I can see why people just throw in the towel.”

“My body is taking so long to heal, maybe I just won’t get there.”

Now let me just say two things. 1. I have made a commitment not to say anything negative about myself. So these things are rather tame. 2. They all contain some truth.

If I let those thoughts become my narrative, I will never make it to my goal.

Those thoughts don’t serve me well. Even if your negative thoughts contain some truth, are they helping you?

Have you heard the way people describe themselves? Let’s say a person wants to start tacking their spending because they need a real budget. But what if these are the things they say about themselves?

“I’m so disorganized.” “I lose things constantly.” “I have no self-control.” “I always quit.”

With a protagonist like that, do you even need an enemy?

1. Write the narrative for person that you want to be.

You can write a new story. Pick one area of your life you want to focus on. I like to “write” the story in my mind as though I’m writing it for someone else. Write it in the 3^rd person. Here is the narrative I speak over myself while I’m on the elliptical.

“She is strong and focused. She carves out the time because it makes her feel sane. She sees the setbacks but easily maneuvers them. She works hard and it shows. She works with intensity. She is lean and powerful. She leverages a small amount of time into big results.”

Folks, there are a lot of other thoughts I could be having about my sore, postpartum body in workout clothes that don’t fit quite right. But those thoughts wouldn’t help me one bit. That other lady I talk about? The powerful, strong, focused one? She is going places. You might not be able to see if just yet, but she is half way there.

So write in the third person if you need to.

Write this story in your mind.

Write it on paper if it helps.

You can reshape your narrative.  Start with one area you want to focus on.

2. Create a few mottos.

When you start feeling more like the person you use to be, and less like the person you are becoming: say your mottos. Create little phrases that define the new person.

“I don’t need expensive things to be happy.”

“I love my budget, it’s catapulting me closer to my goals.”

“Frugal adventures are twice the fun.”

2. Flip the thoughts.

It takes time and practice. We are trying to change our habits, so they line up with our goals. But our mind resists that change.

If you’re thinking things opposite to your narrative: stop and flip the thoughts.

Let’s say you are trying to lower your expenses so you have more money to pay down your debt. A fantastic goal! But you find yourself missing all those little luxuries you use to enjoy. Your motto is “I don’t need expensive things to be happy.” But here is what creeps in:

“I really miss that take out sushi place! Gosh, I can’t wait till this is over. I feel like I haven’t done anything fun in weeks. How do people live like this? This is a form of torture. Why can’t I at least buy a decent cup of coffee?”

Catch yourself. Flip those thoughts. Those things might feel true, but they are only half the story. You need to flip it to remind yourself of the other half. Maybe it sounds like this instead:

“That sushi is ok, but being out of debt is going to be AMAZING! When this is over, and I have paid off all that debt, what will I even do with all the extra cash each month? Each week I am learning new fun (and free!) things to do. I don’t even have time for all the free things my city offers. It’s crazy that by giving up something as small as my daily coffee, I get to build real wealth!”

Both of these thought patterns are true. But only one will help you get to your goal.

If 30,000 thoughts are going to be crossing our mind, we need to make sure they help bring us closer to our goals!

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Discussion questions:

1. Are your thoughts serving you well, or sabotaging you?
2. Have you tried to ban certain thoughts or attitudes?
3. What is a big goal you have and a supporting piece of narrative that could help you get there?