High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset - 511: Become an Observer of Your Thoughts

Episode Date: September 16, 2022

hink of your mind as having two parts: the observer mind and the thinking mind. The thinking mind is the monkey mind going from thought to thought to thought. In this episode, Dr. Cindra talks about how to thoughts to be your best more often. Quote of the Week: "Observe your thoughts and actions so that you can live from true choice in the present moment rather than being run by programming from the past." T. Harv Eker  Power Phrase this Week: “I notice my thoughts and quietly observe my mind.”

Hi friends, my name is Dr. Sindra Kampoff, a national leader in the field of sport and performance psychology. Every week I'm on the local radio sharing my top tips on exactly how to develop the mindset of the world's best, so you can accomplish all your dreams. Get ready for a jammed, packed episode focused on practical tips to help you get after your goals and step out of your comfort zone. Let's go. Time to check in with our friend, Cyndra Kampoff on the phone today. And Cyndra,

we're talking today about becoming an observer to your thoughts. You usually start us off with a quote. I love this quote by Cave Harv Ecker. He said, observe your thoughts and actions so that you live from true choice in the present moment rather than being run by programming from the past. Do you have a story that you're going to start us off with? I do. Personal story here. Recently, I went to this three-day conference, and I got this new tablet, and I was really excited about it. I took notes on it, and Lisa, you're proud of me

because I completely crushed the note-taking. Nice. And I couldn't wait to go back and study what I had written. And on the way home, I was rushed to leave the plane. Our plane was delayed, and then I had to catch the next flight to Minneapolis. And about an hour getting off of the plane, I realized I left my tablet on the plane. Oh, no. And I know there's no way I'm going to get it back because I didn't write my name on it or anything.

And I found myself really beating myself up. Like, what were you thinking? Why were you so rushed? You know, you didn't need to be so rushed. You know, you know better than that. You're so forgetful. Even to like, you're such an idiot, right? Oh my gosh.

And I wasn't very kind to myself. And I couldn't change, you know, that I left the tablet on the plane, but I could control how stuck I was, right? And to do that, I had to be an observer of my thoughts. So what do you mean by being an observer of your thoughts? Well, think of your mind having two parts, like this observer mind and then your thinking mind. And your thinking mind has been described as like a monkey mind,

where it goes from thought to thought to thought, like a monkey going from a tree branch to a tree branch. And even if you just notice your mind for like 30 seconds or so, you'll notice that there's so many thoughts that run through your mind. And when our mind, you know, goes from thought to thought to thought, the key is to notice and observe our thoughts, just to watch our thoughts. And this is so important so we get unstuck. And in my case, it was something really small, like leaving a tablet on a plane. It wasn't like, you know, life-threatening, but it was something that I wasn't happy about. And we can

do this with like small things, like leaving a tablet on the plane, but also to, you know, more larger things in our life that have more impact. And I think it helps us reduce our overthinking. So what is the power of being an observer of your thoughts? Well, I think when you observe your thoughts and notice, like, your thinking mind objectively, right, you're working to let go of your thoughts, meaning, like, you're not your thoughts. And if you let go of this kind of thinking mind, if you just let it run away, right, you're more likely to beat yourself up, experience anxiety, and let your mind go to this kind of stuck place where it can sound like, you know, I have to get this done tomorrow. I'm never going to get this done. I have a million

emails in my email box that I can't answer. I'm never, you know, and it just, it feels really overwhelming. And so when you use your more observing skills, just by noticing your thoughts, and the key is to avoid judging those thoughts. Right. Okay. And if we learn to do this more often, what's the impact for us? I think the impact is more calmness. And observing just allows you to kind of pull yourself away out of the anxiety and panic. And it allows you to kind of see your thoughts from a distance. And your observing mind is more rational, it's more fact-based, it's more practical over emotional. And I think you're able to reset more and kind of

what I would describe as like respond, choose your responses and just react in heightened anxiety or frustration. Okay, is there any other strategy that we can try? Well, I think the more that you work on your observing mind, the better you get at it. And so one thing to consider is that, you know, your thoughts aren't going to completely stop. So these thoughts of like going from a monkey, you know, a thought to thought to thought, they're not going to completely stop. And you just want to notice those thoughts. But when you're on the observer mode, you'll be able to change how you connect with those thoughts and how you relate to them. Again, you are not your thoughts. You don't need to believe everything you think.

And every time you just observe, you become less connected to your thoughts and you are not your thoughts. Sandra, what's your final point for today? So I'd say give it a try today. Just notice your thinking mind and then give it a try tomorrow. And then you'll notice that you'll be able to get triggered less from your own thoughts and the way that you relate to your thoughts will change. And you'll notice just changes in your life where you'll become the better version of yourself, a more happier version, maybe a less anxious version. And you'll be able to really stay in the moment more often and let things go, even when you leave your tablet on the plane. What is your power phrase this week? I notice my thoughts and quietly observe my mind. Cinder, if people want to follow along with your work or maybe get in touch with and see what you're up to, where do they need to go?

You can head over to Dr. Sindra, so drsindra.com. And I have a few free things over there, Lisa. We put together a high performance mindset summit that you can sign up for there and you can get more information about topics like this one that we discussed today. Way to go for finishing another episode of the high performance mindset. I'm giving you a virtual fist pump holy cow did that go by way too fast for anyone else if you want more remember to subscribe and you can head over to dr cindra for show notes and to join my exclusive community for high performers where you get access to videos about mindset each week so again you can head over to

dr cindra that's d-r-c-I-N-D-R-A.com. See you next week.