Connecting our thoughts and feelings around certain events can open our eyes to why we behave the way you do.
When things go wrong in our lives, the best place to find the answer is inside ourselves.
When we allow our thoughts and feelings to control us, they control our behavior as well. We aren’t born with negative thoughts, feelings, or actions. As we develop, we learn by watching the way others react to situations and events until it becomes automatic for us.
However, the good news is the same way we learned those unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and behaviors we can unlearn them. We can teach ourselves to have healthy thoughts and feelings and to choose actions that aren’t sabotaging our life.
For this challenge, we are going to start with the current event going on in our life—the COVID-19 virus. However, feel free to use this technique to gain insight into any event in your life that has happened. This activity is also a great tool to teach children about events that occur in their life.
Beneath every behavior, there is a feeling. And beneath every feeling, there is a need. And when we meet that need rather than focus on the behavior, we begin to deal with the cause, not the symptom.” – Unknown
Your mindfulness challenge for this week is to become aware of your behavior.
I have created a worksheet for you to use here.
Take a moment and think about what your thoughts were the moment you first heard about this pandemic. Write down any beliefs you had about this event or another event in your life. Now ask yourself, are these thoughts rational? Do I know one hundred percent this is real?
Now, think about what feelings came from those thoughts. Did you feel fear, worry, or something else? Whatever your feelings were at that moment, write them down.
Take a look back; what was your behavior? Was it automatic, or did you plan out what your response would be? Did this affect your behavior in negative or positive ways? How long did your behavior last?
Now that you are aware that this behavior is a result of specific thoughts and feelings, what are some ways you can change those into something more positive?
As you continue to practice this challenge, you will recognize why you behave in specific ways. Everything in your life begins with a thought. Those thoughts create your feelings, then create your behaviors. Becoming self-aware of your thoughts, will, in turn, teach you to control your actions and create the life you want!
Other Articles You May Have Missed:
Teach Children Mindfulness With These Books
Mindfulness Challenge, Lets All Hygge
If you or someone you know would benefit from these mindfulness challenges, please sign up for our mailing list here. I would love for you to be a part of our mindful tribe.
Peace & Love, Ela
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