What role do your thoughts play in determining future events?

I had this discussion with my adult daughter. She was stating that her period was coming and she was going to have cramps, upset stomach, body aches, etc. I replied that thinking as such would leave no opportunity for anything different to happen. And that she was, via her thoughts, creating this situation. I tried to tell her that it would be better to say, “In the past when my period comes I have had these symptoms”. Thereby leaving open the opportunity for change.
So, do you think that your thoughts may have some impact on what happens to you?

I’m positive my thoughts have some impact on what happens to me. But what you told your daughter sounds to me like you think period symptoms care about semantics.

We probably all create self-fulfulling prophecy situations for ourselves at times.

None what so ever.

But whether I choose to look for the silver lining or wallow in self pity certainly makes me more or less tolerable to be around.

So are you looking to make her feel better with this rose colored view, or minimize the negative impact on yourself?

I think in some ways, to some extent, your thoughts can affect what happens, yes.

But in general I don’t believe that thinking you will have cramps will, in fact, cause cramps if they weren’t going to happen otherwise. And thinking you will at least gives you the opportunity to prepare for them as much as you can.

Likewise, thinking that “maybe this month will be different” doesn’t in fact make it true. Believe me, I have tried.

You don’t have a uterus, do you?