Thriving through the art of AI

Everyone is talking about AI, or Artificial Intelligence. How it can think, how to harness its power, how it will change our world. Yet many of us don’t give a second thought to the not-so-artificial intelligence inside our heads. Without some guidance, our brains default to ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) as a means of survival. But these also block us from realizing our dreams and enjoying peaceful, joyful lives. To stop ANTs in their tracks, we can take a tip from technology and start thriving through the art of AI.

Surviving vs. thriving

When we feel stuck and powerless to change our circumstances, we often blame ourselves. Yet the brain’s number one job is to keep us safe — so it’s not the best cheerleader when it comes to pushing us out of our comfort zones.

Consider that an average human thinks up to about 60,000 thoughts a day—with a whopping 80 percent of them negative. Making matters worse, about 95 percent are repetitive. No surprise to those of us who can’t sleep at night or concentrate during the day.

Of course, a negative thought or two is never the problem. In fact, the ability to recognize danger or pitfalls is crucial to our survival and an important part of critical thinking.

But when an entire army of ANTs invade, we block our power to manifest what we desire in life.

We may be surviving but not necessarily thriving.

The power of prompts

To outsmart those ANTs, we can take a tip from technology and generate more peaceful, positive, and productive thinking.

Generative AI platforms like Chat GPT respond to and learn from prompts. These are statements we enter into the platform to help us create content. In seconds, it delivers a response drawn from its vast accumulation of knowledge.

Not so different from how our brain works, right? We take in cues from our environment and respond with our thoughts—which are shaped by our own accumulation of knowledge, experiences, socialization, and conditioning. Unfortunately, much of it not only negative, but also not consciously or intentionally “installed” by us.

According to Psychology Today, “…where we really start to create our reality, is in how we perceive/interpret/think about the events in our life…and how we subsequently respond with our behavior.”

In a nutshell, our thoughts become our beliefs which become our reality.

Consider if we took every ANT at face value: Based on the stats above, we’d feel like we’re living inside a Stephen King novel!

Entertaining to read maybe, but not so much to experience every day.

From ANTs to AI

Like any technology, AI is both an art and a science. We may never understand the science behind how it works, but we can learn the art of using it to our advantage. Just like our smart phone, GPS, or Roomba.

Art is simply creative play. With AI, the art is playing with prompts to create something original — instead of a pen or a paint brush for example.

Like any creative process, the initial output to our prompt usually needs work. A savvy artist will continue fine-tuning the first draft until they create a desired result.

We can use this same technique to break the habit of negative thinking. When ANTs attack, we can disrupt them through the power of prompts. That is, using our own minds to create positive prompts that generate more peaceful and productive experiences.

This is how we master the intelligence of our own creative powers — and how we can begin thriving through the art of AI.

The yolk’s on me

Here’s an example of how I wrestled with ANTs. Tossing and turning in bed after a highly stressful day, my mind began fixating on a random problem: An unsightly gap between my backyard fence and a new fence my neighbor installed.

First, the ANTs began wrestling with how I would need to confront my neighbors. Observing this, I fed my brain a “prompt” about how great my neighbors are—no need for confrontation. So, then my mind turned to the fence installer and his shabby work. Again, I reached for a different “prompt” to redirect my thinking. Then those ANTs pulled out all the stops with thoughts of how this would hurt my home’s resale value. (Even though selling isn’t even on my radar right now.) Yet again, I was able to intervene with a positive “prompt.” After a few hours, I fell asleep. I like to think I tipped the scales away from ANTs and my brain settled down. But maybe it was just sheer exhaustion.

Here’s the kicker: In the morning I looked out the window and realized there’s no gap in the fence. Talk about egg on my face. It must have been a very convincing dream and my brain took the bait. At least I got a good lesson out of those sleepless hours.

The brain on stress

We all know that chronic stress causes a myriad of health problems. In fact, the brain perceives stress as a threat — which means stress activates our protective fear responses of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. Again, not fertile ground for creating and growing not to mention peace and joy.

When we fail to nourish our body, mind, and spirit, our mind reacts like an overstimulated and exhausted child, manufacturing monsters in the closet or throwing tantrums. The adult version being worrying, obsessing, and imagining worst case scenarios.

it’s our job to manage the stress so that our brains can be free to focus on higher functions. Like a loving parent, we can feed ourselves positive ‘prompts’ to help prevent undue stress, and the ensuing army of ANTs before they wreak havoc.

As Deepak Chopra says, “We must go beyond the constant clamor of ego, beyond the tools of logic and reason, to the still, calm peace within us, the realm of the soul.”

Practice not perfection

Simply observing negative thought patterns empowers us. We realize that we’re not victims. By letting go of this old belief, we awaken to the truth that we are creators.

As Glenda the Good Witch told Dorothy, “You had the power all along, my dear.”

The more we practice playing with “prompts,” the more we shift the scales in our protective mama bear of a brain. Scientists call this neuroplasticity—our ability to alter our brain’s neural networks. These are essentially pathways carved into our brains from repetitive thoughts or even a singular traumatic experience.

By refusing to feed old thought patterns, we weaken and even eliminate those old, worn out pathways. By choosing to feed positive ‘prompts,’ we carve new, fresh neural networks that serve our higher purpose.

Another beautiful way is expressing gratitude. Each time we choose ‘prompts’ focused on love and appreciation rather than complaints or worry, we deepen those more desirable networks in the brain.

Essentially, we’re rebooting the brain so it can operate more efficiently in service of our desires. (Another great tip from technology.)

Thriving through the art of AI

People say all the time, “I’m not creative.” Usually because they don’t draw or write or do “ART” as a profession. Or someone stomped on their creation as a child, shaming their budding artistic soul forever.

Yet, we are born creators and we’re blessed with access to the ultimate artist’s tool for which to create our experience: Our brains. We just haven’t been taught how to be the artist.

That’s why we so often spin our wheels worrying about monsters under the bed rather than envisioning castles in the sky. Focusing on negativity is not only exhausting, it’s a huge waste of our natural artistic brilliance.

It’s our choice. Instead of adding technology to our pile of worries, why not be inspired by it? Take five minutes today to get those creative juices flowing and start thriving through the art of AI.

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As a certified holistic life coach, my goal is to share the insights I continue to gather along my personal path of growth and healing to help inspire and guide others. For more information about life coaching, visit my website at www.manifestwithmargrita.com or email me at [email protected]. And share my Good Vibrations blog with anyone who needs a little boost today!