--->>> OTT --- Old Thought Thoughts! <<<---

[SourceShield]

Greetings!

This post is about LIMITING-BELIEFS, or as me and my brother Matt now call them, Old Thought Thoughts - OTT.

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This post will most likely not appeal to many people, because I am writing about our beliefs that we have about life and ourselves, that we all have had for much of our life.

Our beliefs are personal, and yet oddly the 'same' as well.

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There is a school of thought that teaches us that when we identify the OTT i.e. I am unlovable.

Relate to the OTT, rather than from it.

We can then release the attachment to the OTT, as well as the aversion to the OTT.

For example -

A child is told that they are no good, useless and worthless, every other day.

-sadly, this is a story often told, by many.

As this child grows a set of OTT have been programmed into the mind-body of the now grown adult-child.

I am no good.

I am useless.

I am worthless.

etc etc etc

The adult-child now has an attachment to the OTT.

But also you would see an aversion to those OTT as well.

I am no good <- the attachment.

And, I hate that I am no good <- the aversion. The judgement for having the OTT in the first place, keeps us attached to the OTT.

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Not all beliefs are limiting.

All beliefs are fluid.

They are mutable - liable to change, as all things in existence are!

But...

How do we release the OTT?

Thats what we're most interested in!.

I am going to share a few things of how I am learning to release all of the OTT that once ruled my life, and would love to read yours as well!.

1) Refer to the OTT being in the past. If we keep on affirming the OTT in the present moment, it stays in the present moment. By writing and talking about the OTT being in the past, youre correcting the memory. REWIRE!

2) I AUGMENT positive memories. Whatever they are, whenever they happened. This is why I actively look for things to be thankful and grateful for. Appreciation, heals! And thats now science...if youre interested in the research about this, let me know!

3) I have learned to ask for help, and to RECEIVE it graciously, whenever it comes to me. And, it always does.

4) I SMILE and LAUGH more. Theres research for this too!

5) I have changed my eating habits. I EAT WELL now. I am now on the Guts and Psychology Syndrome foodplan GAPS. I used to be obese. No more.

6) I EXPRESS in healthy ways - dance, music, write..

7) I take time out to LOVE - my family, friends, my dog bundy, nature..

REMEMBERING to LOVE is a biggie!.

And, whatta 'bout you?...

[SourceShield]

Hi GI!

Firstly, you never have to apologise for rambling on this thread - I get it. Go for it!

I can also totally, totally relate and empathise with how it feels to have all those OTT going on in your life.

Not very nice, at all.

I can sense despair, sadness and sorrow, loneliness and a lot of self-loathing.

You're not alone with any of that.

I'm sorry that's how it's been for you, and I'm happy to work through some of these OTT with you.

That's no worries at all.

I feel that it's really important for you to recognise that you are NOW aware of the OTT.

You are beginning to relate to it, rather than from it.

You are beginning to see that the OTT aren't all that you are, they are just destructive thought-patterns.

That's all.

And, I know for sure that we can release the attachment to these OTT.

Thats what matters.

Letting go of the attachment to the unwanted and outdated thoughts.

Then uploading new positive thoughts that support you.

Then we move in a positive direction towards the NPT, consistently and regularly.

There are a series of OTT in your post though, was the one particularly that you'd like to begin with?

Start with one that doesn't have too much emotional-heaviness, or trauma attached to it, we need a bit more support for those ones, but start somewhere less stressful.

As we practise on the easier OTT to release, just like with anything, we become more confident and then we can deal with the tougher OTT.

Other than that...So glad that you're here with us!

There's heaps of love, acceptance and compassion here for you.

I will wait for you to get back, with where you wanna start, and we can go from there!

Same goes for anyone reading this...

If there is a particular OTT that you need some assistance with, let me know.

I will always do my best for you.

Let's all keep moving forward.

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I feel love flowing to me, through me, and from me.

All is well.

And so it is.

MuchLove

Kaitoa

[Kazzl]

Hi lovelies

This thread just grows and grows! I'm not keeping up with it all, but I want mention a post you made a couple pages back Kaitoa, where you talked about chemicals in the brain being out of whack because of a predisposition determined before you were born. In other words genetic.

That's me! In the words of the wonderful Lady Gaga, baby I was born this way! Tis in the family. I have learned this week of another person (deceased) with bipolar.

So, this year has been, and still is, a process of acceptance for me. I was treated for depression for 15 years before finding out at the beginning of this year that I'm bipolar. Looking back over the year, I have had some persistent OTTs:

Why did it take this long to find out? What might have been different if I'd known. How many crazy, dangerous, damaging things might I have avoided? Why me? Why us?

I'm trying real hard to focus on the NPTs:

Nothing I can do about genetics, and I can't change the past. But I can take care of myself now. Being diagnosed has given me a peace of sorts because I know now why I am like I am. Learning about bipolar has given me a lot of insight and knowledge that can help me help others. My hubby loves me anyway, up, down, cycling or steady. Oh, and I shouldn't take my credit card shopping when I'm hypomanic.

Like I said, a work in progress.

Love you youse all - this thread (and your others) is a gift to the forum. Thank you.

Kaz

[1113]

Kazza,

I'm so happy for you mate.

Love back at ya.

I will tell you what helped me yesterday!

I had a conversation with my mum, I had to keep re-wording what I was saying. My OTT is in the language I speak. So when I spoke..... I had to change everything from "it is still present" to "It used to be this way" and it is no longer this way. My whole emotional outlook changed right before my eyes.

Practice not only writing down your otts.... but notice how you speak to yourself and to others. If its negative towards yourself.....just change it then and there on the spot.

My convo yesterday was so emotional that I would of normally "crashed". Instead I felt good.

Kaitoa is a wise warrior indeed.

I wish you all the best.

I am so happy for you.

Matt.

[SourceShield]

Morning Peeps!

KAZ - Bless you so much.

I 'hear' you.

I'm there with you, 'cause I get it.

Mental Health issues, among other things, have run in my family as well.

Thanks heaps for sharing some of how it's been for you so far, Kaz.

One of the many things that I appreciate about you is your sense of good-humour about it all. The way you write certain things makes me smile...with you, and at you.

I can sense a deep true desire in you to be as happy and as healthy as you can be, with ALL of what you've got going on, the predispositions, the diagnosis, and life itself!

Your acceptance of yourself is paramount, and that's what's giving you this 'breathing space' to relate to the 'stuff', rather than from it. I can tell by the way that you write about it that, you're becoming more and more aware, and more at ease with yourself, 'shadow self' and all.

Your NPT look fantastic. Realistic. That's important.

We should be keeping our NPT relevant to our own life, and it's important to phrase the NPT the way that we would speak.

More natural.

Organic self-acceptance.

Thank you sincerely for your encouragement, Kaz.

We all do our best.

I believe this wholeheartedly now.

And, those of us that live a 'disordered' life at times, we do our best with 'all of that stuff' going on, as well!.

My mother drank alcohol, did drugs, was beaten and abused when she was pregnant with me.

It was the late 70s in NZ.

Times were tough.

I love my Mum...both of them!

But, you can imagine all the toxins, and cortisol going through her body, being pumped into little ole me!.

If a woman drinks whilst pregnant, the child will be born with an intense addiction to sucrose-sugar, among other things.

I had no chance.

This is how it is for many of us, which is why looking into family history can help us all to make sense of some of the stuff.

This isn't 'all' your stuff, at all.

It could be in the 'blood'.

That's taken a lot of the pressure off - okay, I come from a dysfunctional family.

That's all in the past now.

When we accept responsibility for our life, as it is, and make the most of it from there...we take back our 'power'.

Thank you for this timely reminder, Kaz.

I'm gonna take the mutt for a walk now, it's overcast, and the weather is cooler.

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OTT - "It's all hopeless. I'll never be well"

NPT - "Ease Up Turbo! That's OTT. Healing is a process. I accept the process. I am learning to love my whole-self. All is well".

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MuchLove GoodPeople!

[SourceShield]

Bless You BrotherMatt!

Matthew = Gift From God!

Have a great day bro.

WarriorKaitoa

[SourceShield]

Afternoon peeps!

This is a personal OTT that I have released attachment to.

I'm in love with a very beautiful man.

He is a professional performing artist.

Gorgeous inside and out.

In the past, I have compared myself to him.

I have envied him.

I have been infatuated with the very thought of this man.

All that was just "doing my head in" <-literally!.

...when you love someone set them free, and all that jazz...

OTT - "They will never accept me as I am. He will never love me, why would he? I'm just ugly, damaged goods. Everyone hates me. I am a coward and a weakling. I feel helpless and hopeless...like blah blah blah".

NTT - "Oi You Chillax Man! OTT!. You are a quirky, beautiful man that is learning to be free. That's all in process now. Let's enjoy the journey. Trust in the healing process. Trust in your creative-intelligence, and intuitive-reasoning. All is well".

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So what if you're anything like me, and your life can feel a tad 'disorderly' at times, where do we fit being in-love with someone into the whole equation?

I haven't done so well in the relationship department at all.

How could I, when I hated myself so much, just for existing.

Don't get me wrong, my ex-partners have all been very beautiful guys, I just thought that I was unworthy of their love.It was just the cliche - "I Don't Love Myself OTT".

It's a cliche, because as it turns out, there are so many of us out here, that had no love to learn from.

A child that comes from no love, must learn how to love as an adult-child.

However by this time, the OTT, the very limiting self-beliefs, are set in deep.

"I'm Ugly".

"I'm No Good".

"I'm Damaged Goods".

I know these OTT well.

A cliche, as it turns out, can only be 'cancelled out' by another cliche.

Therefore the answer to the, "I Don't Love Myself OTT", is the cliche thought of, "You Must Love Yourself First Before Another Can Love You OTT".

And so it is.

How does one with a plethora of dysfunctions, and disorders, as someone like I, deal with being in-love?

I'll get back to you, when I've worked that out!.

Here's what I'm learning to do to help with the whole 'self-love' stuff...

1) I dance as often as I can.

2) I tell my friends and family that I love them, as often as I can.

3) I walk barefoot on the earth, as often as I can.

4) I read and learn, about this world and life, as we know it, as much as I can.

5) I eat whole foods, as often as I can.

6) I laugh and smile as often as I can.

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PeaceOut

Kaitoa

[blondguy]

Hey Kaitoa

This is a great thread. You also have some sound counsel too. I havent been on for a few days as my dad passed away 2 weeks ago (it was peaceful)

Thanks heaps for letting me hijack your thread a couple of pages back too. I agree with you totally about Matt...he is a Champion. His words are like yours, spoken from the heart.

Love from me everybody

my kindest thoughts (and some mega hugs too)

Paul

[SourceShield]

MuchLove, Paul!

My deepest and sincerest thoughts are with you.

I'm glad to read that it was a peaceful passing.

Feel free to hijack the thread, Paul...you are always most welcome.

Thank you for your kindness, compassion, and tenderhearted warmth that I feel from you!.

BigHugs to you, My friend.

Kaitoa

[Shred1106]

Evening all

I am exhausted tonight from multiple appts with multiple people from 10am till 3pm today.

My OTTs- feeling embarrassed by letting it all hang out with a pile of people (including two new professionals who had never met me before. I am still not good enough to get past this

NPT-Another day, I was true to myself in talking about things

[Kazzl]

Well done Shred. Staying true to yourself isn't easy, especially when you're being scrutinised, well done. Count it as a good day I reckon. I hope the appointments were helpful at the time and prove fruitful in the future.

Kaz