Catch It, Check It, Change It!

Do your thoughts often run on autopilot? Do you assume you know what people mean when they say something that makes you feel anxious? If so, you are not alone!

Having automatic thinking drives our actions and our reactions without much conscious consideration. The phrase “Catch It, Check It, Change It” serves as a powerful mantra, urging us to break free from the cycle of automatic thinking and helps us to take better control of our thoughts. This simple yet extremely profound mantra encourages us to become masters of our thoughts, fostering self-awareness and paving the way for personal growth.

“Catch It” serves as the first call to action, prompting us to catch and acknowledge our thoughts as they arise. It is a moment of awakening, a realization that our minds are constantly generating ideas, assumptions, and judgments. By catching our thoughts, we interrupt the autopilot mode and step into the realm of conscious awareness. This crucial first step lays the foundation for the transformative journey that follows.

Once a thought is caught, “Check It” becomes the next important step. This step encourages us to scrutinize our thoughts and really question their accuracy. We need to start questioning the truth of our assumptions, challenging those assumptions, and assessing the accuracy of the story we build in our minds. This act of checking creates room for us to expose any potential judgements and biases we have built into our thinking. This exercise empowers us to decipher between reality and the stories we tend to create in our minds.

The third phase, “Change It,” is the catalyst for personal growth. Now that you have an awareness that our thoughts may not always be accurate, or for that matter constructive, we are now able to change our responses. Instead of falling victim to automatic, knee-jerk reactions, we can consciously choose how to engage with our thoughts. This transformational step opens the door to new possibilities, allowing us to reshape our perspectives, behaviors, and emotional reactions. By embracing change, we break free from our old repetitive thought patterns and start creating a more intentional and purposeful approach to life.

The power of “Catch It, Check It, Change It” lies in its ability to build self-reflection and empowerment. It creates a mindset that is attuned to the present moment and encourages us to challenge the complexities of our inner worlds with both clarity and intention. Through this process, we become much better at actively shaping our thoughts and our lives.

How much easier could you see your life going if you didn’t automatically think the worst in a given situation? The next time you have a thought that you don’t know is 100% true remember this mantra, “Catch it, Check it, Change it.” This new way of taking control of your thoughts is guaranteed to reduce your anxiety and challenge your assumptions!