Thoughts are powerful. We hear that all the time. Thoughts control our inner world and leak into our outer world in the form of actions. Most people muddle on with their lives with no awareness of what impact of their thoughts are. If you are not one of those people here are some hints toward regaining control of your inner world.

• Become aware of what you are thinking: Take an hour out of your day, and have a notebook handy. Write down all of your thoughts whether they be positive, negative or trivial. You will be surprised at what you are really thinking when you pay conscious attention to it.
• Change the thoughts that no longer suit you: If you are thinking negative thoughts the majority of the time this is impacting negatively on your world. When these thoughts appear, change them. It will get you more in tune with your values. Practise, but it is well worth the effort involved.
• Exercise and concentrate on your body’s movement rather than the thoughts going through your mind: This seems left of field, but not only will the endorphins make you feel better, it clears your mind. Slowing down the rate of thinking is an effective way to change your thoughts because you become more aware of them.

There are many self-help courses out there that can assist you with learning more about controlling your thoughts, and they are well worth seeking out. But in the meantime try some of these simple steps and see the results. What have you got to lose?