As a transformational leader, sometimes we need to stop long enough to think about what we are thinking about. When we do that, we may find we want to change some of those thoughts.
Do you know that you can change your thoughts so that you are actually able to change the way you feel and the way you act? You might be thinking now that there are some feelings and actions that you realize you really don’t want. You might be wondering how can you get rid of them.
A Short Exercise
Let’s try this little exercise. First, get a pencil and paper or go to your computer.
Now, let’s focus on some of your positive thoughts. List some of the positive thoughts you have about yourself, and dwell on those for a moment. Then, focus on one of those thoughts. What feeling do you get when you think about that thought? Now, ask yourself, “Whenever I feel this way, how do I act? How do I behave? How do I impact the people around me when I’m feeling this way?”
Next, list some of the negative thoughts you have about yourself and repeat this process with one of the negative thoughts on your list. How does that negative thought make you feel? Then, ask yourself, “Whenever I feel this way, how do I act? How do I behave? How do I impact the people around me when I’m feeling this way?”
A Big Difference
When you see the difference in the way those positive thoughts you have about yourself make you feel and act as opposed to the negative thoughts and how they make you feel and act, you can see why it’s important to think about what you are thinking.
You can change your thought process in the places you want to change them by reducing those negative thoughts. Examine the negative thoughts and see if they really are true. Are you really a failure? Are you really inadequate? Do you really have no skills or talents? Sometimes, our negative thoughts are an extreme overstatement and need to be adjusted so they reflect the truth.
Here’s an example of what that looks like. Perhaps I failed in one aspect at my job or of being a parent, but, when I really consider that one aspect of failure, I realize that doesn’t make me a failure. Perhaps I am inadequate in one area of my life, but that doesn’t mean as a person I am inadequate. Perhaps I do not have the skill that I need for some particular task or perhaps I am not talented in some area of life, but that doesn’t mean I do not have other skills and talents. This would be the time to identify the truths that combat the overarching negative thoughts that we may have allowed to identify us.
New Thoughts and a New Thought Process
You can see that you are not trapped in forever thinking those negative thoughts. You can shift the negative thoughts into positive ones. In fact, the more you think positively on a daily basis, the more you’ll feel positive. Your positive feelings will result in more positive actions. Your positive actions will create more positive impacts and outcomes for your life and for the areas you want to influence, and that makes you a transformational leader.
Ford Taylor is a leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and the author of Relactional Leadership. As the Founder of Transformational Leadership, he is known as a man who can solve complex business issues, with straightforward practical solutions, while maintaining his focus on people.
