The effect of our thoughts on our behaviour can often be extremely subtle. In our careers our thoughts can prevent us from taking action which may be developmental, fulfilling or even life changing. An ongoing focus on our unhelpful thoughts can also be dispiriting and exhausting.
It’s how we regard and treat those thoughts that can really impact our lives. In this blog I’ll share some of my unhelpful thoughts and how I changed my relationship with them.
When I left the Civil Service in early 2014 I attended a course called “cartooning for communicators” which was one of those understated and liberating experiences. I began to produce and share cartoons which proved to be quite popular.
Reflecting on my own thoughts
About a year after the course, I was contacted by a local independent coffee shop who wanted to exhibit my work. My unhelpful thoughts included…
- What???! You’re not an artist.
- Why would people be interested in your scribblings?
- You’re not good enough.
- People will find it stupid.
- People will criticise you and laugh at you NOT the cartoons.
- People will think you’re a big head.
Firstly – notice how the thoughts are quite critical and even threatening. It’s easy to see how I could have replied to the offer by saying “Thanks very much but no”. These types of thoughts are a core part of the human condition. We all have thoughts that seek our attention and influence our actions.
In my coaching, one of the key skills I aim to cultivate is to help you become aware of your thoughts. We would also spend time exploring your personal values. Personal values represent what is really important to us in our life and career.
I considered my values in relation to my cartoons. What were those fundamental aspects of cartooning that had sparked something within me since the course? I concluded that these values were Humour, Sharing and Courage. Using these values as an alternative focus to my unhelpful thoughts, I went ahead with the exhibition.
It was a great experience. Don’t get me wrong – those unhelpful thoughts still popped up regularly. The difference was that I could recognise them as thoughts and keeping my values in mind whilst I continued to take action. I found that even when the unhelpful thoughts were doing their very best to attract my attention and divert me from what was important to me, I could, most of the time, keep going and not let them push me around.
The illustrations accompanying this blog are a some of cartoons from the exhibition.
There was also an exhibition of my work in the Kapow Coffee shop in Leeds in 2018.
My cartooning slowed down over the pandemic but I’m trying to get back into the habit!
