Happiness - Changing our Unhealthy Thoughts and Ideas: Simple, But Not Easy! (Part 1)

When it comes to changing our unhealthy thoughts and ideas, there are several factors that—most often than not—stand in our way. And the first one is undoubtly the tenacity of the habits we have acquired in our youth.

For example, we all know how difficult it is to learn to speak a new language. The habit of speaking our native language—which we have learned without too much effort given that no previous linguistic habit really interfered with our learning process—makes the learning of a new language more difficult.

And yet, during our childhood, we have not only learned to speak our native language. Alas, we have also learned—and we did so very easily—to talk rubbish. For the sake of our discussion, let's call this particular language the "language of rubbish." As a result, learning the "language of reason" when we are already speaking the "language of rubbish" is as difficult as learning the Arabic, Japanese, or French language when we are already speaking the English language.

And what is the language usually spoken in our community? Sad but true: Not only do most people around us speak the "language of rubbish," but this situation is far from helping us in successfully changing our inner and outer language. As a matter of fact, we can expect that people speaking the "language of rubbish" will no longer understand us. They will most probably cry out that we have changed, that we are queer, or that we have simply lost our head. While there's nothing here to encourage us in our work of transforming our unhealthy thoughts and ideas, let's face it: The "language of rubbish" is widespread and common, and the "language of reason" is rare and uncommon.

Chances are as well that not only will our new way of thinking be perceived by others as a dangerous threat, but if these same others don't simply say we're nuts, they will most probably attempt to shake our new—and still shaky—convictions.

When it comes to the learning of a new language, it is often recommended to immerse ourselves in an environment where only that particular language is spoken. Alas, for the "language of reason," such an environment doesn't exist. There are only individuals, more or less isolated from each other, who have successfully delivered themselves from the "language of rubbish."

In Part 2 of this article, we will explore the other stumbling blocks that are likely to make more difficult the process of changing our unhealthy thoughts and ideas. At this point of our discussion, please don't discourage yourself because—as I often point out—the word "difficult" in no way means "impossible."