Your Inner Programming

Your inner programming is the constant chatter you hear on a daily basis.  For the most part, you probably don’t even recognize it because it just plays in the background of your mind.  Sometimes it gets louder when you’re about to step outside your comfort zone or it just remains quietly rambling throughout your day.  Paying attention to your inner programing is what’s going to make the difference between staying in your comfort zone and going after your dreams to achieve your goals in life.

Remembering Thoughts

Your inner thought programing isn’t anything new.  You think that you’re thinking new thoughts throughout the day but most of the time you’re just remembering.  You’re remembering past experiences and reliving memories.  You’re running familiar patterns and loops in your head from what you’ve gone through in the past.  This could be negative or positive.  Your brain automatically sorts through all your past experiences to see if it can find something similar to determine if this experience is going to be good or bad.  Your brain might land on that time you were made fun of in class or recall a moment when you were screaming with delighted excitement.  Your inner programming is based off your memories from past experiences.

Safety

Your brain’s main job is to keep you safe.  Your brain will tell you to pause or send signals of fear when you’re about to do something that is harmful.  Such as, not placing your hand on a hot stove or avoiding negative feelings like sadness, disappointment, or embarrassment.  Again, these thoughts are from previous experiences that you’ve formed beliefs around.  If something didn’t go well in the past, you’re less likely to want to do it again.  However, if you previously felt safe and had a great time, then your brain will tell you go forward with the activity.  Your inner programming is your brains way of keeping you safe.  Yet, safe doesn’t mean that you’re able to achieve your goals because you’re going to have to step outside your comfort zone and do things that you’ve never done before, which is scary!  You must learn to find a balance between listening to your inner programming and still being able to step outside your comfort zone.

Notice Your Thoughts

Start by noticing your thoughts throughout the day.  When you’re about to do something that seems scary, check in with yourself and listen to what that inner programming is saying.  Sometimes these inner thoughts are really negative.  In fact, you’d never find yourself speaking to a true friend like that.  However, you are often harder on yourself than you should be.  These negative thoughts are preventing you from having the courage to step outside your comfort zone and go after your goals in life.  It’s time to change your thoughts!

Change The Channel

The next step is to recognize when the inner programming is not serving you.  Maybe you’re trying to do something that you’ve never done before which brings up fear, worry, and doubt.  Amazing things are waiting on the other side of your comfort zone but your inner programming is holding you back.  Think of your inner thought programming like a radio where you can change the channel if you don’t like what you’re hearing.  Choose to tune into positive thoughts that will empower you to go after your goals and dreams in life.  Radio stations often replay the same songs throughout the day.  Just like the radio, your mind keeps replaying loops that trigger your feelings.  These are the feelings of fear, anxiety, hope, desire, love, etc.  Listen for what loops you constantly play on repeat throughout the day.  If it’s not beneficial, then change the channel.

Replace Your Thoughts

The key is to find a channel to replace your negative thoughts with more positive thoughts.  It’s like when you’re tuning your radio station and you finally land on the song that gets you singing and dancing.  This song automatically puts you in a happier mood.  What is that song for you?  Maybe choose a certain lyric from that song to energize you into an improved state of mind.  A bad headspace will only leave you feeling worse.  Find what you can replace your thoughts with so that you’re thinking with a more positive attitude.  Determine what affirmations, phrases, mottos, or quotes can you say to yourself to encourage you and fill you with positivity.  Life feels better when you’re happy.  You’re more likely to take action towards your goals when you feel inspired, motived, empowered, happy, and believe in yourself.

Tune In

Lastly, you’re going to need to continue to tune in and check in with yourself.  Life is going to give you some challenges and down moments.  It’s not all rainbows and sunshine.  Just like you can’t expect only your favorite hits to play on the radio.  Think about it, sometimes when a good song is over, another song comes on and it’s not something you’re into.  This happens with your thoughts too.  You’ll be doing just fine and then something triggers a shift in your mindset and you’re sent spiraling with negative thoughts again.  You’re going to have to change the channel or wait for the negative thought to pass by replacing it with a new, positive one.  Tune in with yourself and be cognizant of your inner programming so that you know when to shift your thoughts.

Your inner programming is going to define your success in life.  You can either listen to it and let it hold you back or change the station until you’re empowered to boldly go after your dreams in life.  What you think becomes your reality.  Listen to the thoughts of your inner programming throughout the day.  If it’s negative, change the channel until you find a thought that’s encouraging you to move forward in the direction of your dreams.  Do not let your inner programming stop you from living the life you’ve always imagined.  Choose better thoughts and go after your dreams in life.