Like a dog, when idle for too long, without exercise and entertainment, begins to pace, nudge, divert energy into chewing, barking and possibly other behavior we would consider destructive. My brain does something similar.

I am very good at distracting it. And  I thought that’s all I need. As long as the distraction is productive – like exercising, or cleaning at nauseum, or listening to podcasts for hours, then that’s a decent way of occupying my brain. But today I realized these are just external diversions. For a dog, that is sufficient. But I am a human, and my brain has been given to me to think, to come up with ideas and solutions to the problems in the world and thereby make it a better place

I have observed my brain over these last few months. My life situation is interesting at the moment – I don’t have a job AND I am launching my coaching business. And I have noticed the following:

• Not having a job drags me down. My brain comes up with all sorts of thoughts as to why this is a BAD situation. Here is a snippet from my brain’s audio recording:
  • “You will run out of money and then what will you do? Where will you live? How can you make all your payments? Maybe you should not have bought that car last year, or the kayak. Nobody else you know is in this situation – this only happens to you and its time to come to terms with the fact that you are just not meant for success in this world.”
• When I am able to stop the recording and refocus on my business (coaching clients, working on my website or my flyer, finishing my coursework, etc.), it’s almost as if I am living a different life. My brain is not playing sounds of doom & gloom that I have already listened to a million times before in my life (every time I am in an adverse situation). Instead, it comes up with all sorts of ideas about how I could be a great coach. It feels like a new brain, filled with inspiration and creation.

Switching tracks – from the pre-recorded thought train to an open-to- possibility brain – is challenging; especially when new events fuel the fire, like getting rejections from companies I applied to.

So what is the difference between these two states of my brain and how can I manage them better?

• Brain without supervision is playing a recording. It is telling me a story about events. Its adding commentary to my life.
  • Fact: I don’t have a job.
  • Story (recording): I will never find one again in my entire life.
  • Reality: I don’t know that. I cannot predict the future.
  • Strategy: “Thank you for that insight. I am going to focus on what I can control.”
• Brain under supervision, put into work mode.
  • Fact: I don’t have a job.
  • New story (In absence of a recording): How can I best utilize this time?
  • Reality: What is the possibility here?

The circumstance does not change. But instead of allowing my brain to play add commentary based on dooms day thinking, I take charge. And the best I have found way to change the story is by putting my brain to work. Distraction is good. But the negative thoughts are still in the background. When I dedicate myself to my coaching business, homeless Janine turns into successful coach. My brain is in creation mode. It is focused on ideas that could make me rich. Its being a resourceful companion, the same companion that has been with me every time in the past when I overcame adverse circumstances.

So – my insight for myself and for you is this:

We have more power over our own brain than we realize. It has a tremendous capacity to grow if we decide to explore it. Diversion and distraction may work temporarily. Sometimes going for a walk is what we need to breathe some fresh air. But the point will come when our thoughts take over, and then its our call: Do we allow the recording to play, the commentary and story to interpret the facts of our life situation and leave us feeling miserable? Or do we take charge by putting the brain to work and figuring out how the climb the mountain in front of us?

Let me know what has worked for you.