Hope For The Best, But Plan For The Worst

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. That way I won't be disappointed. That way I hold on to a sense of control. That way I don't risk failure.

Hmmmm… does this mindset really move us in the direction of positive change? Are we really protecting ourselves from disappointment by playing small? Would failing at this small goal be so much less traumatic than failing at a larger one? 

Brain research would indicate no. We live in the most comfortable world mankind has ever known with climate-controlled homes, an abundance of ready-to-eat food, access to ridiculous amounts of information at our fingertips… Yet, our bodies are more chronically stressed out than the cavemen were as they fought for their very survival on a daily basis. 

The driver who cuts in front of us in our incredible machine that transports us door to door in a matter of minutes makes us so angry that we can't shut off our minds for sometimes hours after it occurs. "If he hadn't cut in front of me and then proceeded to drive 25 MPH in a 45 zone then I would have made it to school on time. Now my son is late and I'll have to walk him inside. Geez! They make such a big deal about punctuality and here I am looking like a bad mom once again for missing the bell. I just can't seem to get out the door on time and today I actually did, but this idiot driver slowed me down…"  All the while your body is over producing cortisol, suppressing the immune system among other things. Good news is stress levels rest largely on our own thoughts and we can optimize our bodies' responses to stress through the power of neuroplasticity.

So back to setting goals and dreaming big. If we're going to risk being disappointed, regardless of how small or large our goals (since our thoughts about the outcome, and not simply the situation itself, dictate our actual level of disappointment or stress) then why not shoot for the stars?

Maybe you're struggling with chemical sensitivities, for example, and you just want to get to a point where you can walk down the street without getting a headache from the neighbor's fragrant dryer exhaust. That's all. That's not so hard, right? Well, what's keeping you from visualizing the idea of spending an hour or so browsing the aisles of Bed, Bath & Beyond and all the smells that come along with it? Or attending a fun fancy evening event with women covered in perfume and smokers congregating on the porch? I can just hear some of you screaming about the toxic poisons all those products emit! And yes, that's probably true to a certain extent, but is it really serving you to live a life in a bubble to avoid what the vast majority of people take for granted on a daily basis? I'm not saying to rush to the store now. I'm simply offering you the idea of dreaming big - dreaming big enough that you can envision yourself in situations that you may think would never be possible.

Playing big, or dreaming beyond our comfort level, propels us forward. While this is a large topic to tackle in a relatively short email, I invite you to consider my eCourse, Free Your Mind, where I take you through a 6 week journey into the healing power of the mind. My teachings are backed by science and combined with plenty of invaluable mind/body tools to give you the motivation you need to take your wellness to the next level.

THIS WEEK: Allow your mind to dream bigger than you've allowed recently. Picture a life of vibrant wellness and immense joy, not just the next small step to overcoming your latest symptom.