I am very passionate about the power of our thoughts and our focus. In fact, I wrote a blog about just that last week. I am on a roll right now, so I will just continue on with the theme this week. A key theme. The sad reality is that so many people are not conscious of their thinking, and as a result very easily spiral into the basement of their mind. Trust me, the basement of your mind is not where you want to be, you want to move and have upper floor thinking.
Do you have a basement? Have you ever been in a basement? In my experience they are dark, smelly, damp, and have some creatures living there I really don’t want to bump into. Sometimes we need to go to the basement to get something or store something, but then we probably want to get out of there as quickly as possible, right? It is much more enjoyable on the upper floors. It is lighter, brighter, and may even have some beautiful views over the surrounding area. Would it be fair to say we would rather be on the upper floors than down in the basement? I think so. The same can be said about our thinking. So often we allow it to slide down into the basement when with a simple and deliberate shift, we can be on the upper floors enjoying the exquisite views.
So, what do I mean? If I am being honest, and I want to be honest with you, I was in the basement with my thinking this morning. I went out last night and had a great time reconnecting with some amazing men but went to bed much later than is normal for me these days. I woke up feeling less than optimal. Despite not much sleep, I got out of bed and completed my exercise regime, feeling less than optimal. Then I thought to myself, Oh, I have to write my blog this morning, and I don’t know if I can be bothered. Basement thinking. Why? I said to myself, I have to write my blog, like it is a chore or something unenjoyable that must be done. Thankfully these days, I am very quick to notice my basement thinking, and I thought, I don’t have to write this at all, I choose to write it, I get to write it, and I am privileged to write it. So, here I am now, on the upper floor, writing my blog with joy and with the greatest desire that you will read it, apply it, and it will help you in your life.
I hope you will be conscious when your thinking slides into the basement, and how simple it is to get it to the upper floors where it can empower you and help you create amazing outcomes in your life. The upper floor analogy is that you see further, see more possibilities, and believe more. So, whenever you discover you are limiting yourself by your thoughts, it’s time to get in the elevator to the upper floors. When you say things like, It’s too hard, I don’t have what it takes, I am a procrastinator, I have tried before and couldn’t do it, I am tired, I am not sure I am up to it, I couldn’t be bothered, it’s too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy, or any other similar thoughts, guess where you are? Yep, firmly stuck in the basement with the stench, the damp, the mould and the rats. That’s why they call it ‘stinking thinking’. When you think this way, guess where you will stay? You don’t need me to answer that, do you?
Getting out of the basement to enjoy the view from the upper floor is actually ridiculously simple. In fact, I described it last week, but I will do it again here with three simple steps. First step is to be aware of your thoughts and identify when you are in the basement. Second step is to ask yourself, is that what I want? When you answer no, and you will, then the third step is to think about what you do want, what you can do, and what you will do. In a heartbeat, you will be out of the basement and enjoying the view from the upper floor.
Let’s say you want to regain your wellbeing, and you are thinking about what it takes, and you slide into the basement by thinking, I don’t think I have what it takes, I don’t have the will power, and will probably not achieve what I want. Yuck, talk about a stench! If you are aware of this thinking, ask yourself, is this what I want? Of course that’s not what you want, so what do you want, what can you do, and what will you do? When you answer, it may be something like this, Of course I have what it takes. I can be optimally healthy as all I have to do is take small steps each day, and I can do that. I will start with a walk each morning and eating a healthy breakfast. I can do that, and I will do that.
Can you see and feel the difference with these two very contrary thought processes? Can you also see how quickly it can change when you are aware of your basement thinking? How could you apply this to other areas of your life to get you to the upper floors? In my podcast this week called, Path to forgiveness, Katharine Giovanni and I discuss the simple choice to forgive, the steps to forgive, and how it can immediately transform your life.
I am so glad I have written this blog when I almost talked myself out of it. Just the process of writing it has helped me think about other areas of my life I need to focus on. Yay. What about you? I hope it has helped you shift your thinking from the basement and moved it up so you can enjoy the benefits of upper floor thinking.