I decided I want to control my thoughts.
In meditation, we learn to distance ourselves from our thoughts. With this exercise we notice how our thoughts change every few seconds, with our moods following closely behind. One minute you love life, the next you hate it, and nothing has changed except the thoughts. The more we separate ourselves from our thoughts the more we realize that our true essence is not what happens in the mind but something much deeper and solid.
So if I KNOW we are not our thoughts, why do I find myself still believing them? Even worse, I believe all this negative crap that brings me down and paralyzes me in fear. It’s unhelpful and downright unnecessary. 80% of our thoughts are thoughts that we’ve already had. How lame is that?! And the funny thing is – we continue to BELIEVE and INDULGE in them! When we tell ourselves we are inadequate or unworthy, we believe it! We cower in fear about a future we create in our mind. Most of our worries will never actually happen, yet they stop us from living the life we want. If that’s not frustrating, I don’t know what is.
I heard of affirmations before but I never got into it because I failed to see the point of writing down things you want again and again. It might be inspiring the first 30 minutes after you write them down but soon enough you forget. In my personal opinion, training the mind requires a lot more than writing a few lines every morning.
There’s a certain person in my life I struggle to be authentic with. I find myself avoiding being with this person just so I do not have to feel uncomfortable. But how can I live my life to the fullest if I am hiding from reality? This aversion is directed not just to others but to myself. Yoga has helped me connect with my body but I still cringe when I look in the mirror some days. Well this past weekend I decided enough is enough. Enough “I am fat and ugly” thoughts. Enough “I do not deserve the life I want”, “I am never going to amount to nothing”, “what if I never…” thoughts. From now on, I am going to choose my thoughts and inadvertently choose my behavior. I will no longer be a victim to my thoughts.
Every time a self-deprecating thought arises I close my eyes and think “I love my body. I love my life. Abundance flows to me. I love this certain person. I am the master of my destiny”. I don’t always believe these “made” thoughts, but I continue with them. I think them time and time again. Thought Affirmations about 10x every 30 minutes.
Doing this exercise for about three days has already transformed my attitude towards the person I avoided. I look forward to seeing how it impacts my relationship with my body and life.
Our thoughts determine our actions. Our attitude determines our altitude. I don’t know about you, but I am tired of being small. Are you?
Namaste.
No effort. Thoughts come and go. To sit with intention of ending thoughts is initiated with thought and self-defeating. Like thinking about not thinking. Possible? Yes. Through effort on our part? No. No effort. Love.
Indeed, you are not your thoughts…they are simply mini-creations that you put out into the world, some consciously, others not so much. I believe there is a beautiful balance between noticing the ones that are there with gentle curiosity and then intentionally choosing higher ones that resonate with you more on your soul’s level, which you are doing so beautifully.
Always supporting you, my sweet friend!