Good Thoughts - Personal Practice

It's amazing what we can do to ourselves with negative thoughts.

I found myself this past week engaged in a few conversations which I felt were very negative.

The negativity put me in a frame of mind in which I became judgmental of judgments others were casting.

What a negative spiral it became.

Everyone started stepping onto their high horse thinking there perspective was the best with regard to how others should behave or react to situations.

But it came down to each of us needing to be more thoughtful.

How we think frames our words which are spoken to others.  

The words we speak are how others view us.

But, In my experience the words spoken by someone do not always match their behavior.

So ultimately, It takes time to see how words match to one's actions. 

So when I catch myself thinking negative things about myself or others, I've started a practice of replacing that negative thought with something positive.

One positive quote I like and use often is the following:

"Every good thought you think is contributing its share to the ultimate result of your life" - Grenville Kleiser

It's amazing how having a positive mantra can make all the difference.

It can even help put you back to sleep when you wake up anxious.

I think everyone should practice good thought!

Me, I'm hoping for a life full of positive experienced surrounded by positive people.  

So, I'll I keep up with my practice of being the most positive person I can be and think good thoughts!  :)

Good Thoughts - Yoga Lesson

Ever find yourself anxious and fearful?

Where does that come from?

It starts with a thought.

Why not catch yourself right at the onset of a thought that leads to negative behavior?

Remind yourself that it takes practice to be positive.

Make your thoughts good ones!

The Perfect Package - Personal Practice

I'm guilty!  I'm that person that gets distracted by all that I could do or be better at.

I often find myself with my head down thinking hard about the things I need to be doing vs. enjoying where I'm at.

I look at myself in the mirror and see all that I could fix in my appearance to be more attractive.

I compare myself to others and think I need to try harder in order to be a better person.

I overanalyze my choices and wonder if I've made the best decision for my overall happiness.  In fact I find myself fretting about choices I've made so much that I get anxious and wake up in the middle of the night.

I worry what others think of me.  I hope they enjoy my company as much as I enjoy theirs.

I think I do all these things because I have a vision of what my life is supposed to look like and how it's supposed to feel.

In pursuing that vision I miss many moments.  I'm blinded by my vision and walk past many opportunities.

I'm seeking "The Perfect Package" for my life.

No matter how much I practice being in the moment and being mindful, I find my thoughts shifting toward what I think is "The Perfect Package" for my life.

Once again I've found another thing I need to practice letting go of; My Perfect Package.

It's amazing how much effort and time you can put into being in the moment and still your ego and ideals of perfection subconsciously undermine you.  And it's a million little things that drove each of us to define our perfect packages.

This is by no means an easy practice!  Letting go of all those little things and being open to what is in front of you is challenging.

I say it's not easy because we should all do our best to be the best version of ourselves, learn, evolve, and seek out new experiences.  It's also healthy to want to do things to make ourselves feel better about ourselves.

However, the moment we are in should not be disregarded.  Accepting the journey we've been on and where we are is important.

So, I'll practice reminding myself from time to time that there is no such thing as perfect and I'm not too shabby in this moment.  

I Am The Perfect Package Now!

The Perfect Package - Yoga Lesson

So many of us strive to be perfect.

There is always something that we could do or be better at.

Something we can always fix in ourselves or others.

Thinking that there is something better out there for ourselves robs us of the moment we are in.  It distracts us from enjoying the little imperfections that make us special.

Why not accept "what is" in the moment?

Like you for you!

Look at yourself in the mirror and say to yourself...This IS the Perfect Package!

Mindfulness - Personal Practice

I like to think I'm a mindful person.  

In fact so much so that I overanalyze most things I do.

This can exhaust a person!  

Realizing this, I decided to take a break from writing The Yoga Lessons these past few months.

What was the main catalyst for the break?

I guess it was the last lesson I wrote of "Simplify" that got to me.  

I wanted to simplify, so I took a break from my over-analytical self.

While taking this break , I have to say I did lose some of my mindfulness.

I started going with the flow more. 

It found it interesting to have others telling me what they think on various topics.  

Essentially my "thinking"  was done for me! 

I'm amazed at how easy it was for me to let the views of others take hold of my perspective.  I ultimately let myself be mindless on a variety of subjects. 

I guess it's part of experiencing life and letting yourself see what you like and do not like from different perspectives.

And honestly, nothing was that big of a "something", but combined and over time I found all those little somethings I was being mindless about start to irritate me.  

So, I decided recently to put effort back into being more authentic and true to myself.  I'm back to practicing being more mindful in all that I do.

Honestly, I'm finding it exciting!  I much prefer to participate! 

Vacation from thought is nice, but it's nice to feel at home in one's own skin too!

Now I'm back to being mindful and being my most authentic self. 

Watch Out World!  :)

Mindfulness - Yoga Lesson

Often we want to "just go with the flow" and "not make waves".

In doing so we let others do the thinking for us.

Why do we do this?

Is it possibly because being mindful is work?

There are so many situations daily in which we are being told what is best for us or what defines the best way to live life.

Why not practice asking yourself what it is that is best for you?

Why not practice being mindful in all situations you encounter?

Be Mindful!