PEBBLE
If we would examine closely the strands of those unseen webs that seem to catch and hold us captive every day, we would see that they are nothing more than the stuff of our own thoughts — spun off by a mind never quite content to be where it is with what it has.
~Guy Finley, shared by Hal via Positive People
BOULDER
There are self helping thoughts that move us towards peace, joy and gratitude, and there are self sabotaging thoughts that move us towards stress, conflict and drama. Our lives get so much easier when we learn to recognize and replace the ones that hold us back with the ones that empower our lives.
~Hal Tipper, shared by Pete in Colorado
PONDER
My brain can be a bit of a drama queen. I mean, we’re all wired for worry and fear (those are survival instincts that helped our species make it to today), but my mind can sometimes go swirly-whirly into a four-alarm freakout with little advance warning.
For the last several years it’s been helpful to have a roomie (who is also my sweetie)—Jamie’s presence is calming, and he also serves as a reality check on the wild stories that get generated amidst the mental storm.
For example, it seems to me that I lose things…a lot. I can’t begin to estimate the number of times I’ve left clothes in hotel rooms or sunglasses at restaurants. The other day Jamie pointed out that it’s probably more accurate to say I often think I’ve lost something. In reality, the number of items that are permanently misplaced is actually pretty low.
It’s probably true that I now lose fewer things in part because I’ve developed systems and habits that minimize what gets left behind. And in the weeks since Jamie’s version of reality has influenced mine, I’ve spent much less time beating myself up when I think I’ve lost something. Instead, I extend a little grace and give it a few minutes—or days!—for the misplaced item to reveal itself. It’s helped a lot!
A few questions to ponder as you move through your week:
- What kinds of “webby” thoughts can send your mind spinning out of control?
- Can you spot any differences between thoughts that help and thoughts that harm?
- What’s one sabotaging thought that you could swap out for a helpful one?
Peace,
Paul