ATTITUDE OF OUR MINDS

The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind. William James

We will always have circumstances that challenge us in our lives but by altering how we view these we can grow and even find a level of peace by trusting the strength and wisdom gained after we come through.

I like the saying,” an attitude of gratitude” because each day has its own problems, yet we can focus on what is going well. Finding gratitude can be easy in that you are choosing to focus on 3 things you are thankful for each day.

Example: 1. The hot coffee made in my own house

2. Warm cozy bed to sleep in

3. A job that allows me to make money

All of these could be a negative focus too. You could complain and focus on the fact that you have to make your coffee and that it isn’t made for you, that your bed is too lumpy or that you hate your job.

The circumstances have not changed, but by altering your thoughts you can change how you feel for the day.

I once had a mammogram patient I was caring for set my attitude right and get me out of the complaining mode. I was complaining about how my husband left crumbs all over the countertop I had just cleaned. I went on to say how he doesn’t seem to see the mess he makes. She stopped me right there and said “ you can have a perfectly kept house to your liking and be lonely OR you can be thankful you have people in your lives and the messes they bring” You see you can’t have both…..circumstances are people are messy and living together in a family makes for challenges. Did I want to be the negative mom/wife always complaining or a go-with-the-flow joy-filled person people like to be around?

The choice was mine.

When I feel crabby or hear myself start to complain, I just stop and find 3 things to be grateful for. The grey colors in the sky when it is cloudy out, the quietness of my car after a long day at work, the way the sun reflects the glass in my front door, or the way the air smells before rain or the change of seasons. These are all little things that occur each day and my focus is to find the good part. I still get cut off in traffic, it rains when I forget my umbrella and soak my hair, change in seasons usually stir up my allergies, and yet I want the pathways of my brain to go to the positive not negative.

SCIENCE OF OUR THOUGHT

The right front part of your brain just above your eyeball is your right prefrontal cortex (PFC). This is the part of your brain responsible for negative thoughts, On the top left part of your brain, you will find the part of the brain responsible for positive thoughts. Just like muscles the parts you work the most, well, work the most! One neuroscientist describes it as “ruts” in your brain and your thought follow the well-worn path. So, by finding the negative rather than the positive your brain will just go where the deepest ruts are. I have described this in a very simple way to aid you in understanding a complicated process. Basically, you know people who are always negative even when the good stuff is all around. They have gone down the negative path so much they are going to have to make a very conscious effort to create new pathways in their brains for positivity.

A good way to start is to find 3 positive things about each day. You can write them, say them or think about them. I like writing them out because you can go back and read them over, which will increase the “positive rut” in your brain. November is known as the “thankful” month. Start today in September till Thanksgiving finding 3 positive things each day. IF you miss a day, rather than quit, just move on and don’t be so hard on yourself.

So, begin today after reading this blog and find 3 things to be grateful/positive about.

I am thankful for the breath in my lungs, my feet for moving me through my day, and for ya all that inspires me each day😊

YOGA MOM KIMBERLY

WELLNESS YOGA