Step 1: Becoming aware of thoughts

• Being aware of our thoughts is an incredibly important step to becoming a present leader.

• Initially most people are ‘unaware of their thoughts’ and so are ‘attached’ to them.

• If you’re not aware of your thoughts, especially the unhelpful ones, you can live in a world where you’re suffering a lot of the time, not knowing why. In this state you aren’t aware of your thoughts, or that you’re attached to them. So your thoughts can end up managing you, rather than the other way around.

• Your thoughts can fill your mind almost instantly if you let them. For example, replaying memories of things that have happened, or worrying about what might happen in the future. So you listen to the endless chatter of those thoughts that often aren’t useful or even interesting.

  While there are definitely thoughts that are extremely valuable, like when you’re focusing intently on solving a challenge, or coming up with an innovative new idea, there are also thoughts that are unhelpful and stop you being a present leader. Do any of these sound familiar?

  • complaining that things should be different

  • concerns about things that have already happened

  • stories in your head that you tell yourself to try and make sense of challenges

  • re-running conversations wishing you could have said something different

  • wondering when people are going to discover you’re a fraud (imposter syndrome)

  • worrying about situations that may, or may not, happen

  You don’t need to spend your lives living in your head with thoughts like this - it’s just not helpful.

  Fortunately, there is an alternative.

The first step is to be aware that you are having these thoughts.

Many people live their life not even realising that they’re having thoughts like this. They believe these types of thought are just part of who they are, and there’s nothing they can do about them. Research shows that this isn’t true, and that there’s plenty you can do to become aware of these thoughts, and detach from them.

If any of the above scenarios sound familiar to you, or you don’t feel like it’s possible to be aware of your thoughts, then Thought Management can help. You’ll be able to find lots of help and supporting information, videos and blogs, as this site grows.

Becoming aware of your thoughts

There are several techniques which can help you become aware of your thoughts, which will be discussed in upcoming blogs and videos.

To learn how to become more aware of your thoughts, and stay informed of new resources as they become available, subscribe below, and I’ll make sure you have a frequent stream of helpful information to guide you towards being a more present leader.

It will also give you early access to the ‘Present Leader Playbook’ coming in 2022, which will have everything you need to manage your thoughts, and be a leader with presence.