NEBOJ aligning thoughts, words, and actions with the welfare of all beings https://www.neboj.net/ Change Your Thoughts Episode 8 posted: 27/03/2026 by Peter Welcome Hello and welcome my dearest, dearest friends to another episode of the Neboj podcast. i do as always hope that i am finding each and every one of you in good health and high spirits. In previous episodes dear friends i spoke about the importance of laughter for your overall well being. So here is another one of those jokes that might just put a smile on your face. Teacher: "Kids, what does the chicken give you?"
Student: "Meat!"
Teacher: "Very good! Now what does the pig give you?"
Student: "Bacon!"
Teacher: "Great! And what does the fat cow give you?"
Student: "Homework!" 😆 Homework!! Oh my goodness me. 😆 A fat cow being a derogatory term for a not so kind and nice person (usually a female). In this case, the 'fat cow' is a teacher who always gives the students homework! 😆 Very good, very good although not very good for the poor children though! They're always overloaded with homework aren't they? My goodness me it's terrible. 😆 But there you are, there you are. The Green Woodpecker So there we are dear friends the sound of an Italian coffee bar. Ahhh, lovely moments indeed, having a coffee, a brioche and a lovely chat with dear friends or family. These days however, i am myself having coffee with the universe, imagine that? every weekday morning from Monday to Friday via my inbox. These are very short inspirational, enlightening messages. i have to say though that i do find them to be very clever. And one such message this week read: Yup, right now! Let's do it together. Breathe in... hold it... hold it... hold it a bit longer, and then gently breathe out... a little more... there's still some air in there! Welcome back. By the way if you think you don't have time for this — that's when you could use it the most. Think about that dear friends, 'that's when you could use it the most.' It's so true isn't it? Ensnaring oneself in the mindset of 'i don't have time.' Ahh but you see, you do have time—you simply perhaps choose to spend it on things that do not nourish your spirit, your body or your mind. So do yourself a big favour, break yourself free and prioritize what matters most to your health to your well being and let go of the nonsense. What seems like 'no time' is actually misplaced energy. Reclaim it! And do not allow yourself to be trapped by time, discover for yourself the sacred economies of simplicity. So tell me dear friends... how will you spend your limited energies today? Change Your Thoughts The sound there dear friends of a city tram. i was myself recently in the city travelling upon such a tram with my grandson, the little bundle of joy and innocence who was perched gaily upon my knee. We both keenly taking in all the wondrous and spectacular sights that this quaint city had to offer. —Amidst the intrigue of this urban transit—a phrase on the back of a teenager’s sweatshirt caught my eye, it read: "Change Your Thoughts." This simple yet profound declaration was an uncanny synchronicity with the very subject I had been exploring for this broadcast. As soon as I returned home, I found myself compelled to expand upon that idea—one that lies at the intersection of neuroscience, philosophy, and personal empowerment. So allow me dear friends to give a brief but profound exploration of how shifting your thought patterns can fundamentally reshape your reality. The human mind is not a passive recipient of external stimuli—it is an active generator of perception. Every moment of your life is filtered through the lens of your thoughts, which in turn shape emotion, behaviour, and even physiological health. Neuroscientific research confirms that repetitive thought patterns literally rewire neural pathways via synaptic plasticity. This means you are not a victim of circumstance; you are the architect of your mental landscape. And so here is a question for you to ponder upon: 'If thoughts can alter brain structure and reality, what kind of brain and reality do you want to cultivate? Many, if not most people operate in a state of automatic pilot, defaulting to negative, fear-based, or limiting thought patterns. These may include: Catastrophizing: - imagining the worst-case scenario without evidence, which in essence is a cognitive distortion in which an individual habitually magnifies or exaggerates the negativity of a situation, assuming the worst possible outcome without objective evidence. Victim mentality: - blaming external forces for personal struggles Regret or rumination: - replaying past failures instead of learning from them. These patterns are not only psychologically draining—they also suppress the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine, while elevating stress hormones like cortisol. Chronic stress weakens immunity, accelerates aging, and increases susceptibility to disease. Your brain is not hardwired—it is a dynamic, malleable organ that adapts to new information. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, allows you to: Replace fear with confidence. Transform anxiety into calm focus. Shift depression into gratitude. Reduce anger through compassion. The key mechanism here is repetition. Just as physical exercise strengthens muscles, repeated positive thought patterns strengthen neural pathways that reinforce resilience, clarity, and emotional well-being. For example: 1. Cognitive Reframing – When a negative thought arises, confront it, tackle it, ask yourself: "What is the most empowering way I can view this?" You must at all times stand guard at the door of your mind to shut out negative thoughts. 2. Gratitude Journaling – Writing down 3–5 things you are grateful for daily (even small things) has been shown in studies to increase positive emotions by up to 10% after just two weeks. 3. Mindfulness Meditation – Even 10 minutes a day of focused breath work or meditation reduces amygdala activity (the brain’s fear center) while increasing prefrontal cortex activity (associated with rational decision-making). 4. Affirmations & Visualization – Repeating positive affirmations—such as "I am strong, vibrant, and growing" —and visualizing yourself overcoming challenges rewires subconscious belief systems. 5. Digital Detox – Social media algorithms are designed to exploit fear, outrage, and division. Reducing exposure to mainstream news cycles (which often amplify negativity) can drastically improve mental clarity. Do be very aware too dear friends that shifting your thoughts is not just about personal happiness—it’s about ethical responsibility. Every time you engage in fear-based thinking, you contribute to the collective energetic field of humanity. Conversely, when you cultivate peace, gratitude, and resilience, you reinforce those frequencies in others. This is hugely important, do not underestimate what is being put forward here. A question for you: What kind of world do you want to live in? The one you think into existence. Your thoughts are not static—they are the raw material of reality. The act of choosing what you focus on is the most powerful form of self-defense against manipulation, fear, and disempowerment. As the venerable Rumi, the Persian poet and scholar from the 13th century so succinctly put it: “Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.” Powerful words there... this is not just self-help—it’s self-liberation. May your journey toward liberation dear friends be guided by wisdom and ethical integrity!