The trouble for most of us is that we believe our negative thoughts and we tend to believe them even more strongly than we believe our positive thoughts.
From an evolutionary standpoint, we had to take the thought of being attacked by a tiger or snake and the fear associated with it very seriously. It was the difference between life and death.
And so, over time, we have a cognitive bias towards fearful, unpleasant, so-called negative thoughts, taking them more seriously than we do our positive thoughts.
In fact, over time, we have learned that negative thoughts are an indication of danger. Except, now, for most of us, that danger has less to do with our physical survival and more to do with our psychological survival.
But,
What if we had a different understanding of our negative thoughts?
What if we understood them as nothing more than habits that we have been personally practicing for years and collectively practicing for generations?
What if we understood that a thought is just a thought, a moment in consciousness and that it is not who or what we are?
What if we understood that our negative thoughts, from an evolutionary standpoint (since we are still evolving), are here to signal to us to return to the reality of our true nature?
What if we understood that a thought can either be allowed to pass through your consciousness without any investment of our time and emotional energy OR it could be our wrecking ball?
What if we understood that there is a much bigger reality than the reality of our negative thoughts, a reality wherein we can and do have uplifting and empowering thoughts and feelings?
What if we recognized that in this reality, we live mostly in a world that is safe and that is so good at keeping us alive and well most of them time (often without our conscious help such as in our breathing, digestion and heart beat)?
In fact, what if we realized that our deepest, ultimate reality, our true nature, is one that is whole, complete, indestructible, unenhanceable and unsurpassable?
And, what if we understood that our negative thoughts, from an evolutionary standpoint (since we are still evolving), are here to signal to us to return to the reality of our true nature?
Shakespeare said:
Nothing is either good or bad. Only thinking makes it so.
We can choose how to think about our thoughts.
We can have a different relationship with our thoughts.
We can have a less fearful and more friendly relationship with our thoughts.
And in that spirit of friendship, it is possible to tell a thought that you don’t like:
Thank you for coming by. You’ve reminded me that I have stepped out of the truth of who I truly am and I am now returning to that truth! Thank you!
Remember, you always have a choice about what to believe.
MENTORING
Let Life express itself intoxicatingly, uniquely, powerfully and limitlessly in, as and through you. Don’t settle, whatever your age. Know your true Self. Follow your Bliss. Live the Life that you know you want to! Contact me here.
MINDFULNESS ONLINE
Join me every week to sit in the presence of your true Self and experience the greatness of Life flowing naturally, effortlessly and powerfully in, as and through you!