Mental Notes with Hilary Valdez: Inner management

Thinking is natural. We all have a conscious mind from the second we are born. However, improving positive thinking involves becoming more self-aware and using positive affirmations help to replace less positive thinking.

Understanding your thinking process, then gaining and predicting what you need in the future, is important. And in this global world where everything is interdependent and interconnected, the need to understand and how to react is key.

In 1967, Marshall McLuhan wrote: “The Medium is the Massage.” He described a future where our senses would be massaged by technology and how it would become integrated into our daily lives. However, this environment seems to drag us down with daily negativity which is perpetuated by our own negative thoughts.

As humans we routinely use judgment in determining what to accept and what to reject. Two thinking routines to ponder. “See-Think-Wonder” and “What do you see?” To start, name the qualities of the image you see. What do you think? What does the image make you think about? And, what do you wonder? What questions do you have about the image?

According to Dr. Linda Elder, educational psychologist, all reasoning has a purpose, so state your purpose clearly. Examine your assumptions, identify your point of view, verify your information, then look at the implications and consequences of your reasoning.

Our everyday thinking patterns determine our abilities, talents and personal attributes. To function efficiently in today’s world, we need to determine between what works for us and what works against us. This is where self-awareness comes into play: Don’t worry so much. Don’t procrastinate. Have a schedule with deadlines. Set goals. Start early. Listen actively and ask questions. If your thoughts are calm, you are calm, and so is your mind. You are what you think you are. Don’t be smothered by global events.

Here’s the hard part, a convergent thinker sees limited options. A divergent thinker constantly explores options. We need insightful, problem-solving thinking skills. But when we are emotionally fired up, those grumbling thoughts stay with us for a while.

Watch people when you’re walking out in town, you’ll notice people talking to themselves, answering themselves, and arguing with themselves. This is called incessant thinking. Do you do that?  To stop this, just focus or observe details around you. When you analyze little things, the brain starts processing the little things and your brain begins to switch gears. This also works for stress reduction.

Here’s the bad news about balancing all the global news, misinformation, multitasking, and talking to yourself: Your mental health could suffer. Pay attention to your well-being. If you are chronically tired, avoiding social activities, having changes in weight and eating habits, frequently angry, have a bad temper, or displaying memory problems — it’s time to re-boot! 

Be proactive, think positively, declutter — both physically and mentally, take notes, journal, and multi-task. Be more selective of information to read and receive. Don’t overload yourself with trivial and useless information. Your thoughts create your environment.

Use what we learn in basic resiliency training: your thoughts affect your feelings; your feelings affect your behavior. Your mind is connected to your thoughts, and your thoughts to your actions, which is in turn connected to our consciousness.

Finally, you’re human. You’ll have moments of anguish and despair, just release that energy. Don’t dwell on it. Anger is a dangerous place to stay. Work towards managing your thoughts, navigating out of troubled thinking and then make a plan. It takes practice, but it works when you work it!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hilary Valdez is a retiree living in Japan. He is an experienced Mental Health professional and Resiliency Trainer. Valdez is a former Marine and has worked with the military most of his career and most recently worked at Camp Zama as a Master Resiliency Trainer. Valdez now has a private practice and publishes books on social and psychological issues. His books are available on Amazon and for Kindle. Learn more about Valdez and contact him at www.hilaryvaldez.com or at InstantInsights@hotmail.com.