Thoughts become Things

The refrain was simple, yet persistent: “I hate myself.”

Every time I said something silly: 

“I hate myself.”

Every time I sent an email with a typo:

“I hate myself.”

I soon found myself on autopilot, unconsciously inflicting self-harm, even for the most minor circumstance. 

At the time, I believed my internal dialogue didn’t matter because I was achieving so-called “great” things in the world.

But here’s what I didn’t realize:

1/ Thoughts become things:

We are powerful creators. 

Our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions manifest our reality. Despite my fancy job and Instagram-worthy travels, my self-hatred eventually caught up to me. My negative thoughts manifested a reality where I couldn't feel or receive love. Over time, my self-sabotaging thoughts and behaviors took their toll.

As Ghandi shared, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny.”

2/ My consciousness impacts the corporate consciousness

I thought my internal dialogue was private, something that only affected me. 

As long as I was performing at a high level, I assumed my inner world had no impact on the people around me. 

Here’s what I didn’t understand: I am constantly transmitting my frequency.

Every thought, every feeling, and every perception carries its own vibration and impacts the people and the world around me. I naturally emit the energy of how I feel about myself and my life.  

My internal dialogue is not just a personal matter; it's a collective one. 

As a leader, your impact goes beyond the actions you take. 

Your impact is directly correlated to how you feel about yourself. Your energy, or "vibration," can either bolster or hinder the positive work you're doing in the world. When you take responsibility for your own energy, you're able to show up powerfully and more effectively.

How do you start?

Begin with self-love.

This is not lip service. By caring for your own emotional and mental well-being, you profoundly impact the world. Prioritizing your inner work creates a ripple effect of love in your community and beyond.

Stop and pause the next time you’re caught in a negative thought pattern.

Use a tool, like Byron Katie’s “4 Questions”, and ask yourself:

1/ Is it true?

2/ Can you absolutely know that it’s true?

3/ How do you react when you believe that thought?

4/ Who would you be without the thought?

By engaging in this simple act, we begin to truly change the world.