I saw the David in Florence, Italy.
Around 26 years ago, I took a class at BYU Education Week from a man I’d never heard of before—Dennis Deaton, and this class literally changed my life. The class was all about how powerful our thoughts can be—for both good and bad. And to be honest, I don’t think I’d ever really thought about the power of my thoughts.
They’re just thoughts, after all.
But after this class, I had a whole new appreciation, and even a sense of awe, for how my thoughts influence every single thing I do or don’t do.
Every action begins with a thought.
During the class, Brother Deaton shared the story of the David in Florence, Italy. I’d never heard of the David before, but after hearing this story, I wanted to see the David with my own eyes, and “See the David in Florence, Italy” became the first item on my travel bucket list—a bucket list that didn’t exist before this class.
While the story has changed a bit over the centuries (what stories don’t change with time?), the Opera del Duomo (Florence Cathedral’s administrative body) wanted a statue sculpted out of a large, but flawed, piece of marble. One sculptor tried and failed in 1464, and another failed in 1475. Both sculptors left the piece of marble even more flawed and damaged than before. This piece of marble sat exposed in the cathedral courtyard for the next 25 years until 26-year-old Michelangelo was given the commission in 1501.
Here’s the part of the story I love…
When Michelangelo first saw the huge piece of marble, he could actually “see” the David within the marble, even before picking up a tool for the first time, and even in the midst of the flaws and all of the damage.
His thoughts led to the creation of one of the world’s greatest masterpieces.
As I stood and gazed upon this statue with tears running down my face, my 26-year-old dream had come true. I could feel the power of the statue. I could see the intricate details Michelangelo so masterfully carved into the fragile marble. And in that moment, I could see what Michelangelo had seen all those centuries before: A masterpiece within a flawed and damaged piece of marble.
I was an eyewitness to the power of our thoughts.
Our Thoughts Are More Powerful Than We Realize
During the class, Brother Deaton, shared this quote:
“The consummate truth of life is that we alter our destiny by altering our thoughts. The mind is our most crucial determinant, our crowning asset, our ultimate arena of battle. If we will master the power of our minds, we may do or be whatsoever we will.” ~from The Book on Mind Management by Dennis Deaton
→Grab your copy of this incredible book here
The first part of this quote, “The consummate truth of life is that we alter our destiny by altering our thoughts,” has been ingrained in my mind ever since, and I know it is true. But that being said, I still struggle with managing my thoughts at times.
Sometimes, my thoughts are positive. Other times, not so much. I think that’s just part of being human. But, when I can be aware of any negative thoughts swirling around in my brain, I can more easily change those thoughts into positive thoughts and allow them to empower me instead of pull me down. Awareness is step #1 on the journey to turn negative thoughts into positive thoughts and actions.
The Thoughts We Repeat Matter
One of my favorite authors, Jon Acuff, wrote a book a few years ago called Soundtracks, and like with that class so many years ago, this book has also literally changed my life. I’ve read and listened to this book over and over again, and every single time, I still pull something helpful from Jon’s wise words.
→Click here to get your copy of Soundtracks
Jon calls those repetitive thoughts in our heads Soundtracks, which is quite fitting. Every time I watch the first Wicked movie or listen to the soundtrack, for example, those songs get stuck in my head on repeat, which is okay because those songs are inspiring to me. It’s the same thing with our repetitive thoughts, and if those thoughts are negative—what Jon calls “Broken Soundtracks,” they can wreak havoc on our self-worth, our day-to-day habits, our goals, and who we eventually become. Our thoughts are extremely powerful.
Here are three personal examples of the power of our thoughts:
Example #1: Almost 26 years ago, I trained for and completed a marathon, which is one of the most difficult and rewarding things I’ve ever accomplished. During those sometimes excruciating long runs (and there were many long runs!), I pictured myself crossing that finish line after completing 26.2 miles, an idea I’d read about in a well-respected marathon training book. This picture, alone, helped me find the strength and stamina to complete those long runs.
On race day, as I crossed that finish line, it was just like I’d pictured during the miles and miles and miles of training. It was an incredible and powerful feeling to see that picture in my head come to life.
Example #2: When we moved to Utah a little over three years ago, we had two vehicles to drive cross country, which meant I’d be driving 32+ hours alone. I knew I’d need some help to make this journey easier because…32+ hours…alone. So, with my Soundtracks knowledge in mind, I told myself over and over again, “It’s an adventure, it’s an adventure.”
And it totally worked! Yes, the drive was still long, but looking at it as an adventure and focusing on all of the beautiful scenery as I drove changed what could’ve been a verryyyyy loonnnggggg drive into a pleasant and memorable experience.
→Click here to learn more about this adventure and this Soundtrack.
Example #3: When we went to Kauai a couple of years ago, we booked a raft excursion up and down the Nā Pali Coast. You can only access this coast via water or some very long hikes, so we opted for the water option.
As we were getting ready to board our large raft, the tour guide cautioned us that there could be a lot of turbulence during our journey. My heart instantly sank because I get motion sickness, especially on the water. For a few moments, fear took over, and I thought about pulling out of the excursion. But I wanted to experience the stunning scenery along the coast so badly that I timidly got on the raft with a prayer in my heart. As we pulled away from the dock, I started thinking quite fiercely, “Don’t get sick, don’t get sick,” over and over again.
But then I remembered that our minds can’t picture the word “Don’t,” so I was actually telling myself to get sick. I quickly switched that Soundtrack to, “I feel awesome, I feel awesome,” repeated over and over again.
And you know what? It worked!!!
I felt very little motion sickness, enjoyed the beautiful coastline, saw some incredible marine life while snorkeling, and returned to shore safe and sound and feeling grateful for the experience.
→Learn more about the power of our thoughts + more here.
How to Change Negative Thoughts
It’s not always easy to change negative thoughts into positive ones, and it’s a constant battle that might feel like a losing battle sometimes. Jon suggests this simple process for turning negative thoughts (those Broken Soundtracks) into thoughts that can empower us:
- Retire: Send that Soundtrack packing!
- Replace: Replace that Broken Soundtrack with a positive one, like I did on our Kauai rafting excursion.
- Repeat: Repeat that new Soundtrack so many times that it just becomes a part of your thoughts.
I’ve tried this process, and it works. It’s not a one-and-done thing—it takes lots of practice and repetition to be successful. But once you learn the process, every time those negative thoughts start swirling in your brain, it gets easier and easier to replace them with positive ones.
→If one of your Broken Soundtracks has anything to do with procrastination (*hand raised*), I’ve got you covered. Click below to download my FREE “5-Minute Miracle Habit Creation Guide” and get some super simple steps to help you overcome that procrastination roadblock—and those procrastination Broken Soundtracks—once and for all.
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The Thoughts We Choose Matter
Standing in front of the David, finally making that 26-year-old dream come true, was an experience I’ll never forget. But even more than finally seeing the David, I loved being reminded of the lesson that started it all:
Our thoughts matter.
I still have negative thoughts. I still have Broken Soundtracks. I still have to catch myself sometimes and remind myself that I can choose a different thought.
And so can you.
We can’t always control the thoughts that pop into our heads. But we can become more aware of them and pay attention to the thoughts we’re repeating. So the next time you catch yourself thinking something negative, stop for a minute and notice it. Then try Jon Acuff’s process:
Retire it. Replace it. Repeat it.
It won’t happen overnight. I know that because I’m still working on it myself! But the more we practice paying attention to our thoughts and changing the ones that aren’t helping us, the easier it gets.
And sometimes, changing one little thought can change the entire direction of our day. Or a cross-country drive.
So, what Soundtrack are you listening to today?
Related reading:
It’s Just Data | One of My Favorite Soundtracks for Overthinking
New Seasons Deserve New Scorecards | Another Favorite Soundtrack
How to Keep Promises to Yourself (The Missing Piece in Building Habits and Reaching Goals)
The Sneaky Form of Procrastination That’s Keeping You from What Matters Most
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