What's your broadcast?

Big "ah-ha" moments are wonderful gifts. Mine ususally come while running, practicing yoga or taking a shower. I've heard this happens to a lot of people because these kinds activities can take on a meditative quality. The monkey mind shuts off, maybe only for a moment, but in that moment we can actually listen for a change! Voila ~ the "ah-ha" is born!

This particular "ah-ha" occured during a yoga class. Many of you know, because I have written about it previously, that we do not have television. Timothy Ferriss author of The 4-Hour Work Week describes his personal choice of no TV as "selective ignorance". Ferriss' philosophy is that if he cannot act on the situation to change it, there is no reason for his energy to get tied up worrying about it. Amen!

So what does this have to do with my "ah-ha" moment? Television is a broadcasting vehicle. If there is no television, there is no input into our home of the endless, frenetic, stress-inducing mantra of petty politics, personal tragedy and just plain bad news! (And no pharmaceutical or fast food commercials either!) Reducing or eliminating the reception of this type of negative broadcast frees up energy for more positive and productive pursuits. What I realized in my moment of receptivity during yoga, is that like television, I am a also broadcasting vehicle. Not only is it essential that I exercise a level of conscious choice over what I receive from sources outside of me (like TV), but it is also essential that I become aware of my own broadcast, my "story", that I habitually share with others.

Wow! That little a-ha moment really got me thinking about what I was saying to others about my life and it was rather enlightening (and sobering!). When I got really honest, I realized I had slipped down a slippery slope of blame and negativity! It was subtle but very much there between the lines. Some of the questions I have begun asking myself with are:

Is my story uplifting to my life and my perception of my life? Is it "adding value" to the person with whom I am sharing it with or is it adding negativity to their life? Is my story filled with gratitude for what I have or whining about what I want to have? Am I a victim or empowered in my story?

Once I recognized that often if not most of the time, my story was not "adding value" to anyone, I held the power to change both my story and my results. We tell our story in various versions to family, friends, associates even complete strangers, but we also repeat our story to ourselves (this version of the story can be particularly hideous). The more frequently the story is repeated, the stronger the belief and the more it becomes real and experienced. It is a self perpetuating tool of the ego.

If you dare, listen for the next few days to "your story". What are you broadcasting and to whom? If you are truly brave and ready to get out of your favorite rut, try changing your story to the positive and fill it with gratitude.

Here's an example: "I am so busy running my kids around (or I'm working so many hours), I don't have time to exercise! I only made it to the gym once this week. That's pitiful. I'll be fat forever if I can't get to the gym!" Changes to: "I am so grateful that I was able to get in some exercise time at the gym this week. After being at the gym, I'm so motivated I'm going to walk the track while Susie is at soccer (or I'm going to power walk for 30 minutes during lunch). I'm feeling great about getting into shape."

If you've got thoughts or experiences with consciously changing your broadcast for better results please share!