Estimated Reading Time: 8 mins
Introduction
“You are what you think, all day long” — the famous words of Dr Joseph Murphy.
What we often don’t realise is that our dominant thought patterns subconsciously influence how our surroundings manifest.
The mental seeds we sow almost always become the visual fruits we reap.
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Whether we’re entertaining self-deprecating thoughts about ourselves or our circumstances, what we often think is what gains the greatest influence.
Therefore, we must learn to remain vigilant about the thoughts we continually nurture, because they ultimately shape our belief system and our life outcomes.
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Thought-Driven Downturn
Aside from my condition (PMDD), like most people, I had seasons in life where I experienced bouts of depression and anxiety.
On reflection, I found that these experiences were states of mind.
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They had been triggered as emotional responses to challenging circumstances that occurred, and that cycle of descent typically unfolded like this.
A difficult situation would emerge, prompting a negative emotional response.
My pessimistic-prone perspective would then capitalise on those disruptive emotions and intensify them.
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Each repetition of this cycle fed that state of mind even further.
The longer I allowed it to go on unchecked, the longer my feelings of depression, anxiety, or the two combined lingered.
Our brain is the most powerful asset we have, and the way we think determines how life looks — to us.
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I came to realise that in many episodes of poor mental health, I was the determining factor in how deeply external influences affected me.
In essence, my thinking directly shaped my perception, my beliefs, and the behaviours that followed.
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Without the ability to consciously guide my thoughts, my overall wellbeing was often left exposed.
A single difficult event was all it needed to trigger a mental spiral.
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Dwelling on a single negative thought was enough for me to become consumed by it.
Before long, I’d begin catastrophising, working myself into an emotional state that quietly reinforced my beliefs.
My actions would then follow subconsciously, and soon enough I became trapped in a state of persistent unhappiness.
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Shared Cognitive Struggles
All of us have experienced some form of difficulty at different points in our lives.
In facing those challenges, many of us have struggled emotionally or, at times, needed medical support to help us cope.
What I wish I’d known then was how impactful managing my thoughts, actions, and in turn, my emotions could be.
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Instead, like many of us do, I allowed negative external influences and the emotions they stirred to govern my life.
In contrast to my past, I genuinely believe that this is one of the most ineffective ways we can move through life.
Being guided by negative emotions, especially, often leads to reactive behaviour that encourages impulsive decisions and adds to our frustrations.
It determines our quality of life, but it all begins with our thoughts and core beliefs.
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Our emotions easily fluctuate — after all, that’s what makes us human.
However, the way we feel is usually influenced by how we choose to see, sense, and interpret what’s happening around us.
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When we shape our beliefs through the thoughts we repeatedly think, we’ll determine our perception, and influence our outcomes.
Hard conditions can have an impact, but only if we allow our thoughts and actions to be led by them.
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The Reality We Create
If something upsets you, it’s natural to feel low in that moment.
And when our mindset isn’t being actively managed, we’re likely to subconsciously reinforce those negative feelings.
From there, our state of mind starts to show up in our physical behaviour.
In my case, I’d curl up on the sofa, replaying past hardships that aligned with how I felt.
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Slowly but subtly, I’d lose interest in activities that usually brought joy.
My responsibilities were neglected, and I isolated myself from friends and family.
Harsh self-criticism would creep in, eroding my confidence over time.
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My state of being would continue to spiral until I became a reflection of my thoughts.
The above is simply one example.
When we’re led by emotions, they will influence our outlook, our environment, our perception, and eventually, our quality of life.
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Responding With Conscious Intention
I’m not suggesting that we ignore our emotions altogether, as that would be unrealistic.
Instead, we must learn to challenge negative thoughts with optimistic alternatives.
More importantly, we should implement constructive actions that both encourage and strengthen productive thinking.
Intentional gratitude is an effective practice for cultivating that mindset.
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Applying optimistic responses consistently makes them habitual, gradually redirecting our emotions in a more positive direction.
By doing this, we reduce the influence of a static negative mindset — a practice I term the ‘conscious mindful defence mechanism’.
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It works by retraining our mind through consistent positive reinforcement and aligned behavioural choices.
That way, when turbulent situations arise, our ‘CMDM’ engages.
We still feel the emotions, but we stop residing in them, allowing our state of being and quality of life to remain better protected and more consistent.
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Learning to retrain our thoughts strengthens our circle of influence at its core, helping to restore our peace of mind more efficiently.
It also builds our resilience, allowing us to better shape our outcomes and quality of life.
Happiness takes more deliberate effort than is often expected, and it’s something we must actively cultivate.
We must learn to take control of our perception irrespective of what life presents.
Bouncing back then becomes second nature, and even if we fall, we’re never there for long.
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Summary
The thoughts you allow your mind to constantly process, will show up in the way you are.
Make a habit of thinking optimistically.
Even if you struggle to believe it, keep practising the thought.
Support it with small positive actions — that’s what it means to act on faith.
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It may feel somewhat delusional at first, yet what appears delusional only remains so until it’s proven.
Think it until you believe it, and allow the belief to develop through consistent thought and practice.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he Proverbs 23:7
