Last week’s Wellness Wednesday focused on knowing the truth about our thinking. We experience a different consequence if our thinking is Above the Line and working in our best interest versus Below the Line and not working in our best interest. Let’s check in on our thinking:
- Are you Above or Below the Line now?
- What Invitations have you experienced this week to go Below the Line?
- What Indicators let you know that you were Below the Line?
Jeff Butorac recently gave me a copy of his book, Inner Rival: Silencing the Negativity Within. Jeff shares a very personal time in his life when he experienced so much anxiety that he couldn’t leave the house and go to work. Jeff had become controlled by his Inner Rival, the voice inside his head that created doubts, fear and stress by trying to convince him that he wasn’t good enough, smart enough or motivated enough.
Jeff shares that one cause of being overcome by our Inner Rival is related to our perceptions. “An event, in and of itself, doesn’t have universal meaning,” writes Jeff. “It’s up to the individual and their perception of said event that gives the event its meaning.”
When our perception is influenced by our Inner Rival, we can see situations as more dangerous or difficult than they actually are. Our Inner Rival shows us all the potential negative outcomes and hides the positive ones.
We can apply the Truth or Consequence Rule to our perceptions. “This false reality clouds your perception, making you feel anxious, nervous, and fearful,” says Jeff. “It creates a perception that is not true.” As a result, our consequences will be different than if our perception had been grounded in truth.
Being aware of the impact our perceptions play is especially important when we are experiencing stressful situations. Do we perceive a particular stressful situation as a threat or a challenge?
“When we deem something as a challenge rather than a threat,” explains Jeff, “the stress we experience is typically acute or short term. When we believe it’s a challenge, we also unconsciously believe we’re equipped to handle the trials ahead. Once it’s over, we can relax. In fact, acute stress has been shown to promote personal growth and myriad other health benefits. But when we deem something to be a threat, the stress we experience can become chronic or long term if it’s not processed correctly.”
Be aware of your perceptions this week. If necessary, ask others to help you challenge their veracity.
We’re going to learn more from Jeff next week. If you are interested in getting a copy of his book, go to www.Inner-Rival.com.
From our team…Willow, Kevin, and Tom…who demonstrate that eight eyes are better than two.
Paul Bernabei
Director
Top 20 Training
paul@top20training.com
651-470-3827
