What are your problem areas?

by

my life.

“My existence is a clear reflection of my thoughts.”

I’m not bragging as in this current season this ‘reflection’ may not be a good thing.

But I’m aware and for me that’s always the first step toward change (second step? fighting paralysis by analysis).

“I create my reality and am in control of what my life-situation looks like.”

Again this isn’t yet something at which I succeed on the regular, however an awareness of my power makes even the shittiest of 24 hour cycles feel manageable.

It has taken a village for me to finally grasp these concepts.

And I’m still learning.

I recently remarked to a friend:

My interview went well. It isn’t my dream job or long-term option, but it went well.

She immediately corrected my word choice.

You don’t know it couldn’t become your dream job (she’s right). You don’t know it couldn’t turn into a long-term option (again, right).

“What I put out into the Universe is what flows back to me.”

This is true for every one of us.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to chaperone a gaggle of middle school students to NYC.

When I wasn’t obsessing over losing my charges to the wilds of Manhattan (!) I forged bonds with other adult-types on the trip.

One afternoon, during a lunchtime chat about boot camps and healthy living, a new-friend mom asked me:

What’s your problem area?

Hafiz firmly in mind I responded: I don’t have one.

And then, by way of clarity, I followed up with a laugh and added I have absolutely no emotional struggles either! (something thanks to ample togethertime my new-friend already knew not to be true.).

Even though I attempted to soften my response (I may be comfy in my own skin–it still feels awkward to state I have no problem areas!) I wholly meant what I shared with my friend.

The words you speak become the house you live in.

I continued the conversation and reflected the question back to her.

My friend laughed and said her answer might be shorter if we focused on what she loved about herself. The areas she didn’t perceive to be problems.

I spied an opening to introduce my fave Hafiz quote and seized it.

I informed her that’s exactly why I said I have no problem areas and possess no emotional struggles.

We perceive the world according to language we use to describe it.

The words we choose (I hate my thighs. They’ve always been flabby.) to describe how we perceive our reality (I’m struggling right now.) in turn creates how reality occurs for us.

Here’s where I also need to clarify I’m a realist.

I love the WOO. I concurrently hold no illusion simply making a statement along the lines of: I am thriving in all areas of my life! will spark everything to fall into place.

I do, however, believe the inverse.

Words when not mindfully chosen contain powerful potential to extinguish possibility. 

Whether we’re describing problem areas in physiques or challenges we’re experiencing in our lives – –the words we speak influence the lives we lead.

No problem areas. Few challenges. Dream job. Long-term job.  

Possibilities not extinguished.

And you? 

How would you speak differently if you believed each word created a blueprint for the house you live in?

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Comments

  1. I have never heard of hafiz, but I do believe what we speak becomes the way our lives turned out. I love that quote as in addition to my arsenal!

  2. OMG so true. I coach runners to notice their self-talk. And create positive self-talk, even if what theyr’e saying is ridiculously false (I’m a super-powered runner and I came to WIN!). Self-fulfilling prophecy. Where the mind goes the body follows and all that jazz.

  4. It’s going to be a great day!

    I’ve learned with cycling that what I tell myself makes ALL the difference in climbing those hills.
    And with yoga, maybe because I have no expectations I don’t self-sabotage before I try what I might think I can’t do if I stopped to think about it.

    Now to apply to life out of the saddle and off the mat …

  5. Great quote! We are way too critical of ourselves. If we repeat the negatives often enough, they become ingrained. There’s a positive angle to most things.

  6. I’m just going to put it here: my son was voted by his senior class as “says least, speaks most”. That is so not me and I’d give anything to have that attribute!

  8. I totally believe that what we say becomes what we are. And even though saying something like this is the best day ever! won’t automatically make it be so, that attitude will certainly move it in that direction. I tend to be an optimist and truly believe that everything is going to be alright, but sometimes even I have to make sure that I don’t allow myself to get negative during tough times. Because that would only make it worse.

  9. Lately, i’ve been trying to catch myself when i make a negative statement (e.g. “i’m tired” or “this is going to take too long”) and rephrase it. No asking for what i do not want!

  10. Very aware always of how I phrase things as I have worked with young (special needs) children for my whole life. Interpretation is everything.

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