We humans can be hard on ourselves. We beat ourselves up for the littlest things. Â “I wish I was better at this.” Â “Why couldn’t I do that right?” We compare ourselves. “Why can’t I be more like her?” “How does he do it?” Many of us live with a constant stream of self-criticism when we don’t live up to the expectations we put on ourselves. And these messages have an impact.
There is power in our thoughts. Negative thoughts are like weeds. They multiply and attach to other thoughts until they clog up the mind. Positive thoughts can be harder to cultivate, but the effect they have on us is freeing. Akin to a door or window being opened, allowing in sunlight, and fresh air.
Just as it takes effort to pull weeds from the garden, it takes effort to shift away from negative thinking.
This week, let’s meditate on the messages in our minds. Are there recurring beliefs or negative statements that seem to be on repeat in our heads? Can we shift those messages into positive ones, or replace them with new, fresh thoughts?
I’ll leave you with a quote: “What we think, we become.” What do you want to become?
Meditation. It seems like such a simple word, but it has the power to caghne your life, attitude and priorities. There are times when I sit down to meditate and my puppy mind starts to wander. It’s amazing the things your mind will come up with to keep you from being quiet and restful. All the errands that need to be run, all the things that need attending to .. I breathe and concentrate on my breath and tell my mind to take a break. I breathe and breathe in and out and then THERE IT IS. The colors I see when I close my eyes and get in the zone of wonderful glorious breath. As I breathe the colors deepen and my body starts to calm and disappear. And just for that 15 or 20 minutes (sometimes even 10) I am at one with everything. I’m calm and tuned in to me and my connection to this universe and beyond. As I come back into myself my breath steady, my heart beat in time with life, I open my eyes and its as if I am seeing the world in technicolor. I notice things I didn’t before my practice, and for a few hours afterward I see the world as a kinder, gentler place. Because for a few hours I am a kinder and gentler being. Namaste’
Thank you for sharing. A beautiful description.