***Plagued by Negative Thoughts – Break Free!

If you are plagued by negative thoughts and a “bad” Attitude it’s time to take a look at your early programming and decide whether you want to exercise the power of choice and break free.

Most people don’t feel good about themselves based on their early programming – the thoughts they believe about themselves. The power of this programming is clearly demonstrated when we look at how one of the most intelligent animals in the animal kingdom is trained.

Elephants in captivity are trained at an early age, not to roam. One leg of a baby elephant is tied with a rope to a wooden post planted in the ground. The rope confines the baby elephant to an area determined by the length of the rope. Initially the baby elephant tries to break free from the rope, but the rope is too strong. The baby elephant "learns" that it can't break the rope.

When the elephant grows up and is strong, it could easily break the same rope. But because it "learned" that it couldn't break the rope when it was young, the adult elephant believes that it still can't, so it doesn't even try!

Humans operate in a similar way.
We learn something about ourselves as children
and continue to believe it as an adult.
Even though it may not be true, we operate as if it is on automatic.

Fortunately, humans have the ability to change their beliefs and Attitude about themselves. It is by consciously changing our beliefs and Attitude that we change our lives.

Changing beliefs requires that:
1. You wake up to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
2. You make conscious choices regarding the thoughts you think about yourself.
3. You take action to support what you want.

When you follow these three steps you change your brain pathways and install new software in your mind. But, just as a muscle requires regular exercise to maintain its’ strength and flexibility, new thought processes and Attitudes must be fortified regularly with specific actions.
(Read about How the Brain Works at http://www.self-esteem-experts.com/how-the-brain-works.html)

Taking steps to identify your early programming and making the choice to replace it with new thoughts and Attitudes is an empowering act. See our Self-Esteem Experts exercise and worksheet What Do Believe About Yourself?? for help in identifying your early programming.
(http://www.self-esteem-experts.com/self-esteem-activities-beliefs.html)

This article may be reprinted with the following acknowledgment:
©2009 Susyn Reeve & Joan Breiner. All Rights Reserved – www.Self-Esteem-Experts.com