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Ants in your pants might be better!
Most of us have heard the expression ants in your pants. It is usually recognizable by fidgeting, restlessness, and general kinetic craziness. Did you know you can have ants on your mind?
In Coaching, ANTs is a common phrase used to represent automatic negative thoughts. For example, you are a single person and you meet a great possibility but instead of walking your beautiful/handsome self over and charming this individual with your wonderful self, you think, “I’m too —-(fill in the blank, stupid, plain, poor, unexciting) to have him/her notice me.” OR, you find yourself thinking of a great life altering, career expanding, self motivating plan but instead of beginning the process to self-improvement, you think, “I can’t do it. I’m not good enough. It’s too crazy. I’m too lazy. People would never understand. It’s too big a plan.”
These are Automatic Negative Thoughts that can keep us from fulfilling our dreams, goals, or destiny. We all have them. Maybe yours change from day to day, project to project. Maybe they are the same ones that have whispered in your brain for a lifetime. Maybe you only occasionally have these self-esteem lacking moments. Maybe you cannot ever shake them. In any case, they can keep you from moving forward. They can prevent you from becoming the person you want to be or having the life you dream of having.
What can you do?
It’s simple, but it might require practice. Change your ants! My son says change your ants to pants, which he thinks is funny and we created our own acronym (powerful automatic new thoughts). If you think I can’t, correct yourself with I can. If you think I’m not, think I am. If you are struck with words in your head that cut you down, exchange them for words that raise you up. For example, “I’m weak” may be “I am kind and generous and allow others to showcase their talents.” “I’m pushy” may become “I have a strong will that carries me through crisis.” “I am unattractive” can be “I have strong features that embody the strength of my heritage; the courage of my life.” “I am unimpressive” changes to “I am impressive. I am unique. I am amazing!” Try it! Begin changing your life for the better today. Send those ants scurrying away. Don’t let your brain be the picnic playground anymore, or at least, not as often!
“One of the most responsible things you can do as an adult is to become more of a child.” Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Today has the potential to be anything. I admit I woke up a little (or a lot) sluggish and wishing the week-end had not had to end. I was pulling myself from the fog trying to carry on an interesting conversation with my son to get his week off to the right start. My intentions were there. My head was there. It was enthusiasm that was missing and it was my son’s as well. Lucky for us, we met a fun girl from his class at the school’s flower garden. She had enthusiasm! She was imagining that the middle of a sunflower was a honeycomb and she was encouraging her friends to take a taste of it. The other day in an equally enthusiastic prank, she confided, she had convinced one of her friends that the center was not seeds but an entire six inches of caterpillar eggs. She told us it had worked too until the other girl told her teacher and the teacher gave a more accurate explanation. This girl was excited about everything today: A bird seed that had drifted over and planted itself in one of the flower beds. A box her dad had given her to plant her own flowers in (which, she let us know, dad had accidentally destroyed leaving her one saved plant). Even the school bell when it rang to signal the start of the day. On my way out of the school, I bumped into another little girl who normally is happy to say a quick “hello” as she rushes to beat the late bell. Today, she put her hand on my arm and stopped me. She was so happy because she had finished all of her month’s reading and her parents were proud of her. Her smile could not have been bigger.
So, what do you need to have a good day?
Maybe nothing more than appreciation for whatever the day presents. Maybe a kind word or compliment from someone you care about. A simple touch. A gentle smile. Maybe we don’t all need a perfect day or something phenomenal to happen. Maybe we only need to open our eyes to the world that exists. What did you give today? What did you receive? I received in just a few minutes enough creative stories, hugs, greetings and friendly smiles to make my blah day a beautiful one. Or, at the very least, I got enough motivation to get myself going!
What do you need?
- appreciation?
- energy?
- love?
- fame?
- fortune?
- hugs?
- acknowledgement?
- personal growth?
- unity?
What would make today the day you’ve been waiting for?
I want you to be Happy!
These pages are all about living a healthy, happy, abundant life. I need your help to keep it going. Tell me a subject regarding health, love or happiness that you would like more information about. Leave a comment or a remembrance about the thing or things(or people) that bring you the most joy. What makes your heart sing? What makes you smile or laugh so long that you don’t care if you look silly? What is joy to you? What does your life need to achieve it? Share your ideas, have your friends share theirs. It’s a complex world. Why not find the beauty in it?
Live With a Child’s Joy!
It’s a wonderful world! Anyone who has ever spent a day with a young child knows that. The sky is endlessly fascinating because of clouds or stars or just the endless blue. A seed sprouting in some quiet place off on its own is miraculous. Kittens, puppies, and bunnies are enough for hours of giggling and play. A raindrop can be perplexing and joyous at the same time. A rainbow brings excitement to any otherwise boring day. Children know how to experience joy. A child can spend much of their day laughing. So what happens to us? Why do so many of us adults stop experiencing these simple, blissful moments of life? It’s a wonderful world. If we forgot the pleasure of our childish heart, Louis Armstrong tried to remind us. Our kids or loved ones are daily reminders as well. Hey, look at me! Life is beautiful. Have you found something to be joyous about today? It can be as small and sweet as a newly hatched egg or heart shaped pebble. It can be as enormous as a new pathway in your life. What is your joy? Embrace it.
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within.” Elisabeth Kubler Ross
“It is better to believe than to disbelieve, in so doing you bring everything to the realm of possibility.” Albert Einstein
