Shifting your thoughts can reshape your life 

We often think our biggest work happens in the gym, at the job, or out in the world, but it actually happens in our mind! 

Every thought you entertain plants a seed in your life. Neuroscience teaches us that every time we think a thought, we strengthen the neural pathways connected to it. This is like repeating an action until it becomes second nature. According to research from the University of London, repetitive negative thinking not only reinforces those mental patterns but has been linked to higher risks of anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. That’s why shifting our thoughts, even slightly, matters for our mental and physical health. Is it always easy to disrupt our negative thoughts? No, but the good news is, we can do hard things. 

I’ve learned that paying attention to our thoughts and shifting them from negative to positive, interrupts our stress cycle. When we’re caught in negative thinking, the brain’s amygdala (our emotional alarm center) stays activated, keeping us in fight-or-flight mode. But when we intentionally shift to a more positive or hopeful thought, we activate our prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for logic, planning, and calming emotional overreactions. This signals to the body that we’re safe, lowering stress hormones like cortisol.

I’ve created a friend in my head. Sounds crazy but she’s my ‘pep talk homegirl’ that checks me in real time when I begin thinking the worst. So picture it, I’m driving in my car, it’s quiet and my mind gets to thinking about a painful past situation. I notice and immediately interrupt that thought with a question for myself, “Som, how is this helpful?” “Like honestly, what do we gain from rehashing this story AGAIN.” She’s a little sassy, but I appreciate her honesty. Lol. I know this sounds wild, but it’s a tool I’ve developed that helps me stay the course. Next, I’ll put on my Law of Attraction playlist and listen to messages that remind me of how capable and powerful I am. This is intentional thought shifting.

We can’t always shift from frustration into pure bliss, that’s unrealistic because most times that jump feels too far. And sometimes we’re stuck in pretty heavy places. But you don’t have to find the best thought you’ve ever had. You just need to reach for one that feels a little better than the one before it. It might be going from “I can’t believe I messed this up again” to “I’m learning and growing every day.” Or from “Nothing ever works out for me” to “I’m open to seeing things differently.” The idea isn’t to ignore reality, it’s about choosing which part of reality you focus on.

When we keep replaying painful stories, we’re repeating and re-feeling that hurt, betrayal, or disappointment.  We keep triggering the brain’s stress response. Studies show continuous activation of this stress response raises cortisol levels, which can weaken the immune system, disrupt sleep, and contribute to heart disease.

The goal isn’t to pretend those experiences didn’t happen, but to stop feeding them the energy that keeps them alive. Pay attention to how your body responds when you think about past situations that caused you pain. Does your chest start hurting a bit? Do you sometimes get a headache? That’s because your thoughts are directly tied to how your body feels. 

So today, be intentional. Try noticing your thoughts before they get away from you. Maybe even create a friend in your head to help keep you on track. When you catch yourself spiraling, reach for the next best thought you can find. Speak life and positivity over yourself, and those seeds will grow. Reprogramming how our minds think takes practice, but the effort is worth it because eventually you’ll begin living in a way that feels lighter, fuller, and beautifully yours.