All things are created first in thought. We have to protect our minds from things that do not benefit them. For the mind is a very fragile thing, and in one moment, you can be in charge, and in the next, the mind can take over, steering you down a terrible path of despair. Our ability to remain the captain of the ship—our body, mind, and soul—is to be able to identify what you allow into your mind and what you do not allow into your mind.

Before I get into real lab experiments to prove my point, let’s go with some obviously seen ones in our lives. Can you pause for a second and think of anything you have done or created where you have not thought about it first? Especially with the things we have succeeded at; of course, we chose those things, and, of course, we made the decisions to get them to the position of success. All those things required a thought before the action, even if it is brief. For me to come up with an idea to write this post, I first needed the idea, and then the next had to be a thought of sitting down to type it out. I could have thought of doing anything else, but the thought that pulled me was to type.

Everything in our existence, then, is first a creation of thought. Now, how about things that fail? We often don’t think of things we fail at as a cause of our thoughts; after all, why would we choose to fail? We don’t, but we do choose to cower away in fear, we do choose not to push through the challenges, and we do choose to talk negatively to ourselves that will demoralize us enough to quit. Guess what each of those things is? Of course, the answer is our thoughts.

Here is one of my favorite studies, learned helplessness. A researcher by the name of Martin Seligman was experimenting with dogs. Much like Pavlov’s dogs, he rang a bell, but instead of getting it to salivate for food, Seligman gave the dog a slight shock; the dog had no means to escape or evade the shocks. After a while without shocking the dog, when the bell rang, the dog acted as if it was getting shocked.

In the second part of the experiment, a room was set up where one side had an electric panel, a dividing wall, where the other side offered a means to evade the shocks. The dog that was conditioned to the shocks would just sit down and take the shocks as they were administered, thinking there was no escape anyway. They brought in other dogs who had not been classically conditioned and placed them on the panels. When the shocks were administered instantly, the dogs leaped over the barriers to escape the shocks.

This is a clear display that our thinking will shape our reality, and our reality is what we get in response to the world around us. For some of us who are stuck, we can become unstuck merely by shifting our thinking.

Referencing my last post about narcissists, we have to be careful about who and what we allow into our mind space. Always ask if our actions are fear-based or not; everything should come from a basis of our authentic, genuine self and nowhere else.

Fear is a tool used for control. How many ads have we seen telling you that the sale is limited, yet, in fact, you know next year the same sale will still pop up again? But act now before it’s gone, they will tell you. Fear is used for manipulation; people will spend their lives telling you they are right and you are wrong merely to get you to follow them out of fear. This is not leadership; it is manipulation.

Once again, determine who and what you let into your space because your thoughts really do make your world.

As we navigate the intricate tapestry of our thoughts, let us remember that our minds are the architects of our destinies. Through intentional choices and a commitment to authenticity, we wield the power to shape a world aligned with our truest selves. May your journey be guided by positive thoughts, unwavering self-belief, and the conscious curation of a mental space that fosters growth and fulfillment. Here’s to crafting a reality that mirrors the beauty of your aspirations. Until next time, embrace the incredible potential within your thoughts, and let them be the compass that guides you to your brightest tomorrow.

Lucky Nghi