Meeting #3

Topic - Positive Adjustments.

At one point in my life, I realized that I wouldn't live long if I continued to be angry and live in fight-or-flight mode. I had already gone through seven months of chemotherapy for cancer. I was always a very stressed-out person, and I needed to change if I was going to live. I had no idea how to do that, so I began researching and came across a common theme: we can improve our lives by improving our thoughts. The belief is that we are the sum of our thoughts. Therefore, our lives are the sum of our thoughts.

I grew excited because I finally had a path to follow. I saw that I had the power to change the direction of my life. I began working on my thoughts, one by one, trying to change negatives into positives individually. I heard a story of a man who carried 3 X 5 cards and repeated scriptures throughout the day as he traveled from customer to customer. These promises helped him become positive and confident, enabling him to flourish as a salesman. I tried this recommendation as well. 

Paying attention, moment to moment, to my thoughts, turning them into positives, and writing scriptures and affirmations on 3 X 5 cards worked to an extent and were worthy endeavors for me. Still, negative expectations toward most subjects in my life were so engrained in my thinking that I needed something more. So this is what I did. 

I downloaded a recording app onto my phone. I gathered all my scriptures and affirmations and began reading and recording them. I added to this recording whenever I found a saying or thought that would improve my outlook and help me. The recording totaled over 2 hours, during which time I talked to myself, my brain, and my body, and I started treating myself with doses of positivity and love. Then, I'd put my headphones on at night and listen to the recording. I changed the recordings occasionally depending on what I wanted to work on and kept to this routine. It usually woke me up about four hours later when it repeated twice; then, I turned it off for the night.

I still follow this practice. At first, it took about a week of listening to these thoughts before I began to notice something. I seemed calmer, had more peace, and didn't feel in fight-or-flight mode throughout the day. I wasn't as easily irritated. I'm pretty good at hiding my feelings but felt better inside.

So, today's club activity is to review my approaches and try one.

Here they are:

1. Begin being cognisant of your thoughts. Please notice whether they are self-critical, critical of others, have negative patterns, or have angry thoughts. Then, turn one thought into a positive one by flipping it around. Make a game of it; see how many negative thoughts you can stop. These must include not only thoughts about others but also yourself. You are important.

2. Look at my scriptures and affirmations, put them on 3X5 cards, and carry them with you. Memorize them by saying them out loud and to yourself. 

3. Record your affirmations and listen to them throughout the day or at night.

Again, these are not activities you do once and feel optimistic about—and everything is magically good. These are life changes. Take your time and stick to it.

Let's Begin!

Your friend, Denise