Is it a real feeling or just an auto-suggestion

Habits are powerful - we can function on auto pilot and make no conscious effort at all. Habits are also underestimated because we don't take them all under consideration. However, sometimes some discovery exercises and a tender process are very much needed.

I want to tell stories. Stories of the mind. Stories as honest and true as they happen. But before I tell you any stories, I digged into my own mind to understand the stories I tell MYSELF.

Thinking patterns are stories. We tell ourselves stories all the time.

It really is an interpretation of what we think happens around us and since we’re subjective beings we must admit that when we’re interpreting, even just in our own heads, even without sharing it with anybody else, we subconsciously or not create rather than describe reality.

Our stories usually resonate with out habitual thinking, with our culture, with our choice — choice of angle and perception.

Let me tell you a story.

I left to go to work at 7.20am. I got on the tube. There was a lot of people as usual. I got a seat. Many had to stand the whole way. I got to work on time.

Let me tell you another story.

I woke up early again and I’m so sick of it — I need more sleep! I went to the stinky central line again. It was packed of course and it stunk! People were way too close to my face, blah. I couldn’t wait to get off but even then what… I was going to work (rolling eyes emoji).

And another story.

I woke up this morning, healthy and hungry. Enjoyed my coffee and breakfast which made me leave the house a little late but oh well, it was worth it. I got on the train and luckily I take it from the first stop and always get a seat …so many people have to stand up for an hour or so. I listened to #Akimbo on the way, one of my favorite podcasts — it motivatesme and makes me think about the work I am about to do as value, as growth, as opportunity. I am always excited to do great thingsafter listening to it — thanks @Seth. And then I was writing this so it felt like I travelled for 5 mins…

Yep. Same story. Different interpretation. And it’s so not about me telling YOU the story. It’s a boring one I know. It’s all about me telling ME the story.

From then on I created my mood, navigated my behaviour, contributed to my habit formation process on HOW to interpret. As I said before, we can’t expect from ourselves to suddenly change out habitual thinking and see everything in pink, and be all positive and stuff… nah. If the goal is to optimise our worldview and emotional health though, it starts with LYING TO YOURSELF. Yup.

This kind of a lie is all about the feeling, it’s not about the anyway subjective reality. I believe that as much as feelings create stories, stories create feelings.

Once you START telling yourself the good stories, it’ll slowly by slowly become natural. Until then, be a creative storyteller…

Just something I learned and felt like it’s a good food for thought.

Sooooooo how is your day going?