Changing the Mindset
Taken from my book ‘A Well Mind’
Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right.” once upon a time I did not believe that I could calm my mind; I did not believe I could get off medication; and I did not believe I could find contentment, or contentment. And because I didn't really believe that I could, I didn't commit to doing the work that I had to do to get where I am now. It has not been an easy ride- until I got a taste of what life could be like, I wasn’t fully committed.
The trick is not positive thinking. It’s about changing our mindset.
The Socratic approach uses logic and reason as the means to achieve emotional healing. Our emotions are caused by our beliefs and judgements. However sometimes our beliefs are just plain wrong, and this causes us immense suffering. According to the Socratic tradition we can use our reason to re-appraise, to think differently, and therefore to believe and behave differently. This will lead us healing and wisdom.
Jules Evans pointed out in his book Philosophy For Life, the 4 steps of the Socratic tradition.
Human can know themselves. We can use our reason to examine our unconscious beliefs and values.
Humans can change themselves. We can use our reason to change our beliefs. This will change our emotions, because emotions follow our beliefs.
Humans can consciously create new habits of thinking, feeling and acting.
What do you think about that? I especially like number 2, as if we change our beliefs then our emotions will follow. However number 4 complicates matters.
If we follow philosophy as a way of life, we can live more flourishing lives.
Number 4 is the place where we drive to after working through 1, 2, and 3. It’s the place where our values take us, and will be different for everyone. It brings us back to the importance of finding meaning and purpose.
If we are to use reason to examine unconscious beliefs, it's sometimes difficult to know where to start, how do we even identify what our unconscious beliefs are?
A good start is to look at the areas where we self-sabotage. For example, you want to start getting up an hour earlier to exercise, but every night you stay up until 12am watching TV, and consequently sleep through your alarm. Ask yourself what are your thoughts about this behaviour? Have you convinced yourself that because you work hard all day, you deserve to slob in front of the television at night? Or that the nighttime relaxation ritual is the only way you can truly unwind? Or, that the benefits of getting up early, don't compare with the benefits of binging on Netflix? Then ask yourself if this behaviour really has any positive effects for you.
Use reason and logic to examine if your thoughts about this behaviour are correct. Are you going to feel less relaxed in general if you just watch a little TV, go to bed an hour earlier and get up to exercise?
As you bring these patterns of behaviour into your conscious mind then you have the power to release the emotions associated with them.
For example, you are clearly stressed at work, which is why you believe you need the extra TV relief. Logically that belief is untrue. The reality is that exercise is a much more effective way of achieving stress relief than late nights in front of the TV. To overcome the limiting belief you need to remind yourself that your subconscious belief concerning relaxation and television are incorrect. You are in fact sabotaging a healthy, and less stressed lifestyle if you continue with this behaviour. It takes some work and to be honest, you need to make your new belief your mantra for it to take hold. For example “I am more relaxed, and much happier when I go to bed early and wake to exercise.” This is your new value system and therefore the new you.
Just like the first 3 steps in Socratic tradition we need to get to know ourselves, and examine unconscious beliefs and values, then use reason to change our story or beliefs so that our emotions will follow, and create new habits of thinking, feeling and acting.
'Let’s move on to discuss how we can overcome negativity
