By Sunny Simon
I had a childhood fear of tornadoes. Never experienced one first hand, but the thought a violently ranging twister scared the heck out of me. Fear is a learned emotion and I can tell you exactly who my teacher was. I’m from the Midwest and have multiple memories of my dad standing in our front doorway scouring each and every stormy sky for a funnel. Quite frankly, I doubt he ever experienced one close up and personal, but he was always on tornado alert.
Dinner table discussions often involved the latest twister Dad read about in the newspaper, or got wind of (pardon the pun) on the radio. He continually kept his ears tuned into weather reports. When my parent’s friends came to visit, I could bet money somewhere during the adult conversation my dad would bring up the cyclone subject.
Looking back on his tornado phobia, I understand he was concerned for the welfare of his family. Tornadoes are destructive and can be deadly. When threatening clouds loomed above Dad just wanted to tuck us safely in the southwest corner of our basement. (Which I later learned was an old wives tale. No part of your basement is any safer than any other.) Tornadoes were always on his radar.
This isn’t a column about the perils of Mother Nature, it relates to the fact that what you focus on becomes your reality. For example, if you are scheduled to give an important presentation and for seven days prior to the main event you obsess about speaking thinking you will bomb, more than likely it will not be your best work.
It is true our thoughts make our world. For many years I kept a sign on my desk proclaiming a famous quote by Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or can’t you’re right.” It was interesting to observe my office visitors read the quote and nod vigorously when the meaning registered. Mr. Ford was in good company as Jesus said: “As you think, so shall you be.”
Add to the above some scientific good news. In her book, “Brain Boosters: Seven Ways to Help Your Brain Help Yourself,” Dr. Simone Ravicz states, “Positive thoughts and assumptions turn on the positive switch” Keeping positive thoughts at the forefront can actually “lead to the development of positive neuronal pathways.”
This week exercise some mind control. Stop fretting over fears. No more obsessing over what could go wrong. Fill your day with optimistic thoughts and reap the benefits of a positive perspective!
Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com
