The impact of our Thoughts on Behaviors

# Emotions Regulation
16.03.2024

“What you think you become”– Buddha

Did you know that our thoughts create our feelings and our feelings drive our behaviours.

 

We have between 5,000 and 60,000 thoughts every day. Left unguarded, thoughts can create a myriad of mental, emotional and physical conditions.
Left unguarded, our thoughts can make it very difficult to move forward in life, especially after experiencing a significant life challenge. It is therefore beneficial to understand how thoughts work and how they impact our health and wellbeing on a daily basis.

 

When your thoughts appear to be the product of your overwhelming sadness, know that it is your thoughts that are feeding the sadness rather than the other way around. Your thoughts generate a feeling which you then act upon. This action then gives you an end result.

 

Change your thoughts and your feelings will change. Change your feelings and your action will change.

 

This fact is quite liberating and it is immensely freeing to understand that:

  • Your thoughts are not inevitable
  • Your thoughts are self-made
  • Thoughts affect your mood - not the other way around

So, how do you control your thinking – especially at a time of great emotional hardship?
If you've been in the habit of allowing your feelings to control your life, we are sharing below few ways to start taking control of your behaviour in response to your feelings.

Give yourself time to think

Before you act, take a few moments to think about the situation and your feelings. Try to look at the situation from multiple viewpoints to see if the way you perceive the situation is correct. You may find it helpful to try deep breathing exercises or mindfulness meditation to control your nervous system in case fear or anger is motivating you. In these cases, you may lower your blood pressure, slow your breathing, and create space in your mind to look at a situation in a new light.

Learn to recognize your emotions

Some people may struggle to label their emotions, causing a sense of loss of control. Instead of understanding your behaviours, you may react based on a whim or a habit you developed early in life. By learning to label your emotions, you may better understand their meaning and how to cope with them. In addition, studies show that labelling your emotions can have positive mental health impacts.

Shift your thoughts

As it has just been mentioned earlier, feelings are closely related to thoughts.
Because your feelings are strong, your thoughts may drive you to act unhealthy. However, by restructuring your thoughts and understanding that they may not always be "facts," you can take control away from your emotions.

 

You're not alone if you often experience negative self-talk or pessimistic thoughts. By focusing on these thoughts and understanding their core, you can reframe them in a more accurate or optimistic way.

 

You can control your behaviour, even if it's complicated. However, you don't have to do it alone. If you're struggling, talking to a certified coach for support may be beneficial.

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