Powerful thoughts is a new concept to me. I am familiar with the notion of positive thinking and have given it a try in many different circumstances. For a while I used positive thinking to try and bring a challenging relationship with a co-worker up to a higher level of communication. Every morning I would spend several minutes repeating a mantra along the lines of “Joanie and I are communicating honestly and fairly….Joanie and I are communicating openly and seeking to understand each other’s points of view…” etc. Some days it worked to put me in an open space of possibility, but most days all it did was bring to mind previous emotionally taxing, negative conversations and interactions. But, I kept at it diligently, completely ignorant to the fact that instead of creating the healthy relationship I wanted, I was solidifying the detrimental one. I didn’t believe what I was saying and my mind helped me out with examples that supported my disbelief.
