Dr. Jeffrey T. Litchford

About Dr. Litchford (click on photo to link with my Facebook page)

TN, United States
I have a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology am a Certified Master Subconscious Restructuring Counselor and Coach, Behavioral Consultant, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and NLP Master Practitioner. I've worked in the specialty areas of personal change, optimizing individual potential and behavioral consulting for over 25 years. I served as Director of Psychiatric Rehabilitation for a Regional Mental Health Center, Directed a Certified Academic Institution which trained counselors, taught Combat Medicine and War Time Psychiatry at the School of Healthcare Sciences USAF and presents at seminars and conferences. I am the founder of Life Management Services, a community social service and counseling agency, served 14 years in the U.S. Air Force then went to work in state and community mental health agencies until establishing Life Management Services in 1996.

HOW TO CONTACT DR. LITCHFORD

  • LIFE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
  • email lmsdocjeff@live.com
  • Phone 615-556-3760

Sunday, August 7, 2011

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

Let's expand on the theme of motivation.  Our conscious thoughts impact our subconscious mind which determines whether our motivation is centered in moving "toward" something desired or "away" from something feared / unwanted.

We move mentally, emotionally and even physically in the direction of our dominant thoughts.  Our subconscious mind is a powerful and completely reliable servant.  It will always give us what we ask of it.  What are we asking of our subconscious?  How do we ask our subconscious for anything?  Generally, the pivotal issue is that we are not aware that we ask for things or direction from our subconscious by every conscious thought that we have and every word we speak.  The historic Bible character Job taught us the power in this principle of mind when he said, "that which I feared most has come upon me!"  What we send outward in conscious thoughts, words and actions we also send inward to our subconscious.  It becomes direction to the subconscious mind which the mind will respond to without critical judgement.  It is a loyal, reliable and nonjudgmental servant.  The subconscious mind responds to everything as if it is true!  It cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is imagined.  It responds to every thought as reality.

The Key is to direct our subconscious by sending thoughts focused on what we want, not on what we don't want.  The simple yet complicating factor is that we tend to think and speak in 'negations'.  'Negations' are thoughts or statements that seem positive on the surface but are actually based on a negative.  Examples of 'negations' are; "I don't want to be fat", "I don't want to be late", "I am not afraid", " I am not nervous".  These are all 'negations'.  The subconscious does not recognize 'negations' or negatives.  It does not respond to "don't", "can't", "not", "won't", etc.  So when we say or think "I don't want to be fat" the subconscious is receiving  and responding to "I want to be fat" or "be fat".  Every thought and statement is received by the subconscious as direction or as a goal.  When we think "I am not nervous", the subconscious receives "I am nervous" and as a goal, helps us to become that way or achieve that state.  When we use 'negations' we are focusing on what we don't want.  Here is the key, think and speak in terms of what you want.  Rather than "I am not nervous", a more productive thought and direction would be "I am relaxed and confident".  Rather than "I don't want to be fat", how about " I am slim, trim and fit".  Would these not be more desirable and powerful goals for your subconscious?

I know it sounds simple... because it is!  It is Simply Powerful because it is Powerfully Simple!!  
Next time we will fine tune our skills in directing the subconscious by discussing the power in Empowering Questions.