The Cost of Believing What You Think

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Staffan Rydin | CEO Coach | Master Certified Integral Coach™


The world is the mirror image of your mind.” – Byron Ka


Do you ever wake up thinking that you didn’t get enough sleep?

Do you ever believe that there isn’t enough time in the day?

Do you ever think that something outside of yourself is making you unhappy (your work, your family, your body, etc.)? 

It can feel so true. But if those thoughts are true, you’re trapped. Because the cost of believing they are true is that you become reactive—a “puppet on a string” that needs the outside world to be other than what it is in order to be happy. 

The real problem is that you believe what you thinkThis is one of the reasons why becoming more mindful is so liberating. 

The next time you feel upset about something and your mind starts to complain about it, try out the following (it’s based on “The Work” by Byron Katie):

Isolate the complaint in your mind.

For example, “I am angry because X never does the dishes.”

Take that thought and ask yourself the following four questions—one at a time, putting aside some time to observe what comes up in your mind after asking each one.

  1. Is that true?
  2. Can you absolutely know that that’s true?
  3. How do you react when you believe that thought?
  4. Who would you be without the thought? 

Begin to habituate this practice by doing it with all of your judgments and complaints. This is powerful medicine. And it will make you a lot happier. 

“I didn’t get enough sleep last night.” 

Is that true?

“Today is going to be a hard day.” 

Is that true (or a self-fulfilling prophecy)?

“This shouldn’t be happening.” 

Is that true? Or perhaps it should be happening, because it is happening?

Choose not to be harmed, and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed, and you haven’t been.” – Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations


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About Me:

Over the last 10 years, I have been the personal coach to some of Canada’s most successful Founder CEOs and to 250+ high-performers in business, sports and the arts.

In addition to being a Master Certified Integral Coach™, I am a trained body-centered psychotherapist and a dedicated practitioner of Zen Buddhism and mindfulness. My coaching practice is enhanced by my experiences as an Arctic Ranger in the Swedish Armed Forces, my engineering background and three years as CEO of a tech start-up with 70 employees.

My core promise is to create powerful personal and business breakthroughs.

My core values are truth, mastery and joy.

To apply for a free powerful coaching conversation email staffan@staffanrydin.com

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