“What You Think About Is What You Will Bring About”: Harnessing the Power of Thoughts

Ever Had a Bad Day When You Got Out of Bed on The Wrong Side? Your Thoughts May Be to Blame.

We’ve all had those days when we wake up seemingly “under a cloud.” You spill your coffee, can’t find your keys, hit every red light on the way to work – and it’s not even 9 AM yet. By lunchtime, you’ve snapped at your coworker for breathing too loudly, and you’re wondering how this day could get any worse. 

Then there are other days when you bounce out of bed, the sun is shining, everything goes right…and you can’t stop smiling. 

We usually chalk it up to luck or circumstance. But what if your thoughts played a huge role in shaping those realities?

What if, as the popular phrase goes, “What you think about is what you will bring about”?

This saying points to a powerful truth: Our thoughts directly influence our actions, feelings, and experiences. Both positive and negative thinking can become self-fulfilling prophecies.

If you’re thinking, “This day is going to suck,” your brain is primed for noticing all the little annoyances. But when you expect a great day, you’re more likely to breeze past the coffee spill and find the keys quickly. 

The Mind Makes It Real

“Your thoughts create your reality.” You’ve probably heard that before. But how exactly does it work?

Well, your brain doesn’t actually distinguish between vividly imagined scenarios and real ones. Neurologically, just picturing something activates the same regions of your brain that would light up if you were really experiencing it. Same goes for your body – imagining a tasty treat kicks digestion into gear. 

So essentially, what you think and imagine starts to become your reality because your mind and body are rehearsing for it.

Thoughts also directly impact feelings, which drive behaviors. When you dwell on how you always mess up big presentations, those negative thoughts trigger nerves when it’s time to give a speech. But mentally rehearsing success will make you feel excited and empowered. 

What we continuously think about shapes our beliefs, attitude, and worldview. Someone who always dwells on injustice constructs their reality through a victimhood lens. But reframing thoughts fosters empowerment.

We’re also wired to seek out info that confirms our beliefs. So pessimists find proof the world sucks, while optimists see the good.

In summary, your thoughts essentially create a snowball effect that manifests in real-world results and experiences, for better or worse. 

Plant Seeds for Success 

Luckily, we can apply this same principle purposefully to manifest more positive outcomes. It just takes converting the snowball effect to work in your favor. 

Be mindful of your self-talk and inner narrative. Are you dwelling on how you’ll bomb a test or how you’ll ace it? 

Counteract negative thoughts with affirmations and possibility thinking. Imagine in vivid detail how you want things to go. Your brain can’t tell the difference between imagination and reality, so you’re priming it for success. 

Surround yourself with positive influences – people, media, books – to reinforce constructive thinking. Garbage in, garbage out. 

Monitor thoughts for subtle self-sabotaging beliefs. We often undermine ourselves with disempowering narratives. Become aware of these thought patterns and replace them consciously.

Use tools like affirmations, gratitude practices, visualization, and journaling to keep your thoughts solutions-focused and optimistic. This builds mental momentum.

Conclusion

With consistent and mindful effort, you really can think yourself to success. But it takes diligence because the brain loves falling into ruts, whether positive or negative. Make conscious thought a daily practice. 

So the next time you spill coffee on a “bad day,” stop the downward spiral by remembering that you construct your reality with your thoughts, beliefs, and self-talk. No one can control your mind but you.