Every day is a gift for us, whether we realise it or not there is an abundance of blessings waiting to be appreciated. I’ve spent so long in my fight or flight zone because of life stressors and events, that it’s really difficult for me to accept that life is not out to get me. That good things happen just cause and that I have the ability and resilience to get through challenges without having to suffer. I’ve become accustomed to seeing the negative things in life, even though my true nature is optimistic and full of delight. I’ve learned to worry about the future and or stress about things that aren’t going well.
Constantly being driven by the need to find safety and security is exhausting. Your life experiences become tainted by stress and by trying to figure out how to keep yourself protected. This is not living, this is not making the most of life, this is barely surviving – you become a zombie that’s driven by your threat response as opposed to the celebration of life. Trying to undo this ‘record’ takes a lot of time, effort and work. Work that I’ve started 4 years ago and I’m still trying to figure out. Soul journey’s are different for us all, but one thing is the same and that is we are all given the courage and strength we need within us to get through what life presents to us. If we don’t feel that way, it’s because we don’t believe that to be true.
So, here I am on a cold and crisp morning. I’ve woken up groggy and a bit tired, I can definitely do with more sleep and would love a coffee but I know that it won’t help my mood. Recognising that I’m tired allows me to prepare for a day that can be full of negative thoughts, so I look to my toolkit to find the right antidotes. What can I do right now that will bring me back to presence, to noticing the blessings, celebrating them and stepping out of the fog that has casted itself over my brain? What can I do to shift my focus from the broken record that has become the soundtrack of my mind to developing a new neural pathway that will eventually become my new theme song?
These are the type of questions that I ponder on, helping me to figure out what I need to feel better and also think better. Observing my negative thoughts as I write this helps me realise that they’re trying to get access to centre stage. They’re subtle but if I pay enough attention I can see that my thoughts are telling me they’re disappointed in me, that I’ve not prepared for my meeting later, that I’ve wasted my time on my phone, that I haven’t managed to fix my sleep routine, that I can’t get rid of them because they’re just stating facts, that the grey sky and cold weather means it’s going to be a grim day, that I have too much to do and there is no way that I can do it etc. etc. etc.
Whilst they may feel real, I KNOW that they’re not real and that there is no validity to them and that they’re the result of what I’ve learned and not who I am. Instead I practice the reframing tool that I have under my belt. So let’s challenge those thoughts:
I was hoping to get a lot of things done today, but I can sense my energy is low so I will prioritise accordingly and set myself up for success.
I have time to prepare for the meeting so I after I write this post, I will grab a tea and sit down and write down my thoughts.
I am getting better at letting go of my phone and not being so hooked on it, progress over perfection; it is an addiction after all that I am trying to fight.
I have had a few good nights of sleep this week, the clocks have changed this morning which is what is throwing me off kilter I will get back onto this and continue with making progress.
These thoughts aren’t facts, they’re a perspective and only one perspective of how I can experience my life. I choose to explore other perspectives and allow the ones that lift me to lead the way.
The grey and cold sky is an indication of a cosy day, I’m going to have great fun on my walk all rugged up in warm clothes. Thank you mother nature for diversity and bringing your different expressions to life.
These are just examples of how I can take control back of my mind, a mind that is doing her best to protect me but not realising there isn’t anything to protect me from. I want to wake up every day grateful and for that I need to practice, practice, practice. We are all the sum of our actions, what we do, who we are around, what we eat, what we consume, how and where we spend our time etc. So by exploring what our needs are and what can help us thrive, we can improve the quality of our thoughts and lives.
It’s hard, it takes a lot of effort to form any type of habit and or to become aware of these thoughts / experiences. But it’s possible and everyone can learn it with the right support. Trust yourself, do good for yourself and find what works for you.
Love Always,
M
Souloom™ 