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Introduction

Since 2002, I have shared the Managing Thought process with hundreds of groups throughout North America as a service to Vistage International, also known as TEC, the preeminent international organization that supports the personal and professional development of CEOs and key executives. Participants in these workshops have invited me to share Managing Thought with groups of couples, parents, teens, teachers, students, professionals, non-professionals, executives, non-executives, and salaried and hourly workers. These participants have written and phoned to tell me how Managing Thought profoundly impacted their lives and their relationships with colleagues, direct reports, bosses, customers, friends, spouses, family members, and most importantly, themselves.

This book documents the principles of Managing Thought, and provides a system to apply to any aspect of your thinking and being, such as your life, relationships, family, career, role at work, company, department, vacation, a project, process, opportunity, problem, goal, strategy, or even a telephone call.  

This book is filled with information to help you increase your self-awareness and shape your thoughts to accomplish what you want in each moment and live the life you intend. You may find yourself wanting to implement everything immediately. You can relax, because you don’t have to. You can choose to practice just one thing throughout the moments of your day, and experience a significant transformation in your work and life. Throughout the book, I’ll point out each just one thing that you can choose to practice.

Before I embark on a learning experience, I find it helpful to make an assessment of where I am right now. Along the way, I measure and celebrate the changes I have made and chart my next steps. For this reason, I have developed an assessment for you to measure how you are managing your thoughts right now. If you like, you can take the assessment before reading this book, after you have read this book, and periodically in the future as you continue to practice changing the way you think. To take the free “How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World?®” self-assessment, visit www.managingthought.com.  

It is simple and straightforward, and takes about ten minutes. When you are finished, you can print a report and receive guidance on the best steps to take next.
 
I have written this book so that you can choose the approach to reading that best suits you. For example, you can read it in one or two sittings, then choose a specific topic to focus on. You can read a chapter a day, a week, or a month and play with what you have learned. You can read just a few pages each day. Do what is comfortable for you.

Although it may be tempting, try not to rush through the book. If you have time to mindfully read one page, then read one page and choose one thing to practice and personally experience.

Before you begin to read, take a moment to calm yourself and open yourself to your higher awareness. Take a few deep breaths, relax your neck, massage your scalp, rub your ears, smile, stretch, and loosen your clothing.

You may find yourself thinking all kinds of thoughts as you are reading the book. When your brain tells you, I’ve heard that before, and asks you to put the book down, say, Thanks for sharing, and keep reading. When your brain tells you, Hey, this self-awareness stuff is uncomfortable, and asks you to put the book down, again say, Thanks for sharing, and stick with it. For many of us, transformation is not comfortable. If your brain criticizes or judges you because you should have already known a particular point, or because you did know it and failed to practice it and thus wasted time, money, or damaged a relationship, again say, Thanks for sharing, and keep reading. We are always wiser today than we were yesterday, so it naturally follows that we likely would have said or done something differently had we known then what we know now.
 
Remember, we learn quickly and achieve significant results when we’re in a state of joy and gratitude, full of hope and possibility. In these states, we are inspired and in touch with our creative power. This is not so when we are in a state of criticism, blame, judgment, or anger about ourselves or others.
 
When you turn on a light in a room, do you get upset that the room was dark before? When you are upset, not only do you miss out on the joy of learning, you cut yourself off from your creative power, your ability to inspire and be inspired, and your ability to learn effectively. Should you find yourself tempted to criticize or judge yourself as you look at the mirror within, know that you have flipped the switch. Enjoy the light.

Please note that in Managing Thought, you do not become someone else. As you become self-aware and on purpose, you are rediscovering your true nature. It is as if you are peeling an onion—peeling away the layers of beliefs, expectations, and ways of thinking and being that you have built up over the years. You are getting back to who you really are, reopening your connection with your higher awareness. You are reconnecting with your strengths and what inspires you—what truly brings you happiness. You are reconnecting with your purpose and passion.

Managing Thought represents thousands of years of wisdom from many roads—business, psychology, biology, chemistry, physics, neurology, metaphysics, and spiritual teachings. Every concept offered serves as an example, and while the experiences of others can be illuminating, they cannot replace your own experience. While the experiences of others can tell you where a path leads, they do not release you from the duty of taking the path yourself and even changing the path. The more openly and freely you experiment with what is offered in this book, the more you gain, as you enjoy the freedom to be you.

I invite you, now, to experience the joy of peeling away all of the layers of your humanity, and bringing to light your power, your beauty, your gifts, your talents, and your purpose in living—your true nature, your authentic self.