If I am not my thoughts, who is?

A tip for when negative thoughts are overwhelming.

On the days my thoughts are particularly numerous, fast and negative it can be difficult to feel like I am anything but what my thoughts say. For me personally, reminding myself of the idea that I am not my thoughts is helpful. But alone, it is not enough. I need imagery too.

A number of years ago when I was first trying to get into running I was feverishly searching online for tips about how to break through my mental barrier. On the one hand, I was the physically fittest I had ever been, and on the other hand I was the mentally weakest I had ever been. The negative mental chatter would start days before a planned run, telling me that I couldn’t do it, I wasn’t made to run, and that I might as well give up.

Intellectually, I knew that these thoughts weren’t necessarily true. But I struggled to separate myself from them. Happily, I stumbled across an idea that not only helped me to go from mentally limiting myself to 2 kilometre runs to joyously completing 10 kilometre runs, but also got me through various other, more serious, circumstances. Now I’m sure this is not the holy grail; it is one component of my toolbox. But, I think it’s worth sharing.