The Power of Thought

How What You Think Shapes What You Do

Ever noticed how a single thought can change your entire mood? One minute, you’re feeling fine, and then—bam! —a worry sneaks in, and suddenly, you’re stressed. Or maybe you had a moment where you felt confident and took action on something you’d been avoiding.

That’s the power of thought in action. What you think influences how you feel, and how you feel determines what you do.

The Thought-Behaviour Connection

Think about a time you were nervous about doing something—maybe speaking in front of a group or making a big decision. If your thoughts were, “I’m going to mess this up” or “I don’t know what I’m doing”, your body likely responded with tension, hesitation, or even avoidance.

Now, imagine the same situation, but this time, you tell yourself, “I can handle this” or “I don’t have to be perfect to do this well.” Notice the shift? Your body relaxes. You’re more likely to step forward and take action.

The Loop: Thoughts → Feelings → Actions

Our thoughts don’t just live in our heads—they shape how we feel and our behaviour. This cycle looks something like this:

[1] A Thought Appears → “I’ll never figure this out.” [2] That Thought Triggers a Feeling → Frustration, anxiety, self-doubt. [3] The Feeling Influences Behaviour → You procrastinate, avoid the task, or give up.

Now, let’s change that thought:

[1] A Thought Appears → “I can learn how to do this.” [2] That Thought Triggers a Feeling → Hopefulness, motivation, curiosity. [3] The Feeling Influences Behaviour → You take a small step forward and start figuring it out.

It’s not about “thinking positive” all the time—it’s about noticing what you’re thinking and choosing thoughts that help rather than hinder you.

Shifting Your Thoughts to Work for You

Since thoughts drive so much of what we do, it’s worth taking a moment to check in: Are your thoughts helping you move forward, or are they holding you back?

Here are three ways to start shifting your thoughts:

Notice Your Thoughts – Pay attention to what runs through your mind. Write down 3 thoughts that take up most of your headspace.
Challenge the Unhelpful Ones – Ask yourself: “Is this 100% true?” “Would I say this to a friend?” If not, reframe it.
Choose a Thought That Moves You Forward – Instead of “I can’t do this”, try “I don’t know how yet, but I can figure it out.”

Final Thought (See What I Did There?)

Your thoughts shape your life’s direction—whether you realise it or not. The good news? You get to decide which thoughts you give the most attention to.