Every day, every single one of us, votes for the thoughts we allow to shape our perceptions, actions, and ultimately, our lives. When we repeatedly choose fear-based thoughts, we see a world of limitations and struggle. Conversely, when we vote for love, we see potential and connection. This article explores how to recognize these choices, their effects, and actionable ways to use them.
Recognizing what we are voting for starts with noticing how we feel. Love is characterized by openness, acceptance, trust, and a willingness to connect deeply, while fear is based on self-protection, judgment, and a tendency to withdraw. Love promotes feelings of warmth, happiness, and security whereas fear generates anxiety, unease, and stress.
Love focuses on the building aspects of a situation, embracing the other person's flaws and celebrating their strengths, while fear focuses on potential threats and negative outcomes, often leading to criticism and judgment. Voting for love encourages openness, communication, and taking risks to build deeper connections, while choosing fear often leads to withdrawal, isolation, and defensive behaviors.
Personal Growth - Enhanced feelings of well-being, reduces stress and lowers the risk of mental health issues. Increased self-awareness becoming more attuned to feelings and identifying personal strengths and areas for improvement. Greater resilience and ability to adapt to adversity and pivot with greater ease. Improves confidence and self-esteem.
Relationships - Stronger connections and better communication being more prone to active listening, resolving conflict amicably, and understanding others' perspectives. People are also drawn to others who exude warmth and confidence.
Work - Improved overall atmosphere promoting respect, cooperation, and a supportive culture. Enhanced teamwork by valuing others’ contributions through collaboration boosting productivity and job satisfaction. Improved leadership by an inspiring vision that resonates on a personal level.
Additional Benefits:
Better Decision-Making by making ethical and considerate choices, and thinking through the long-term effects.
Enhanced Creativity-Positive emotions like love can broaden thinking and enhance creativity, leading to innovative solutions and ideas.
Physical Health-There's evidence suggesting that positive emotional states can improve physical health by boosting the immune system and reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
Effects The Way We Speak-We broadcast what we are voting for. This has long-term ramifications both personally and throughout our community echoing our choices.
“You are the architect of your mind. Build thoughts that align with your vision.” –Unknown
Take five minutes daily to observe your thoughts without judgment. Note how you feel when a thought arises that creates emotion. Do you feel warm and open to opportunity or anxious or frustrated? When a fear-based thought arises, ask yourself, “What is this thought protecting me from?” Then, try to reframe it into a thought rooted in love or growth. For example, if you think, “I’m not ready,” reframe it to, “This could be an opportunity to learn and grow.
Create a “love vs. fear” chart. List common fear-based thoughts on one side and reframe them with affirmations of love on the other. Review this chart each morning, mentally casting your vote for love-based affirmations. For instance, if one fear-based thought is “I’ll mess up,” counter it with “I learn from every experience.”
Sit quietly and close your eyes. Imagine two paths in front of you—one representing fear and the other love. Take a deep breath and see the details of the two paths. First, see yourself walking down the path of fear. See the resistance and the obstacles that pop up along the way, and imagine the worst outcomes. What can you take away from this visualization? Take a moment to consider your insights. Now, see yourself walking down the path of love, experiencing each step as light and expansive. See the resistance and the obstacles through the lens of confidence with trust the best will occur. Feel the energy and clarity that emerge while watching the experiences unfold in your mind. What can you take away from this visualization?
Insight for this article came from the recent election. The emotion before the election was at a fever pitch and I felt unsettled. It is here that it occurred to me that we vote for where we allow our minds to take us. Every thought is a choice, an internal vote that shapes our lives. This practice isn’t about ignoring fear but about recognizing it, using its information, and implementing what is gained with the choice of love. The more we make these choices, the more our thoughts, beliefs, and actions align, creating a life in connection and purpose. Let each thought be a vote for the life you want to live. Embrace inspiration, speak your truth, and act on your conviction.