Truth be told
6/19/2022
Have you ever felt jealous or judgy of a good friend who had a huge win? Maybe they bought your dream home, got in fantastic shape, have a partner who adores them, or has the perfect relationship with their kids. If you have, that's okay. We're only human.
Many of us have conditioned responses and old thought patterns we might not even recognize. Our first thought might not be how we truly feel; it could be how our parents felt or how we felt ten years ago, but we never stop to reconsider our position. It's a trained response to see or hear one thing and then think another.
As we evolve spiritually, we must recognize, acknowledge, reconsider, or replace these old thought pathways. It's a perfect opportunity to start self-inquisition when you catch yourself fretting over someone else's life choices.
The trick is to make it a short visit when you think negatively about anything; try not to settle in with the thought! Instead, you'll want to pack your metaphorical bags and take the fast lane to the higher rent district in your mind.
Acknowledging when you're feeling out of sorts is the first step. Sometimes, it's hard to catch ourselves in the act to correct the behavior. But, a good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't want your thoughts broadcast, you might want to reconsider what you're thinking.
Here's what to do:
- When an unsupportive thought first pops in your head, say STOP to yourself.
- Sit with thought and the feelings you have for a minute or two.
- Then ask yourself, “What am I afraid of? What changes do I need to make in my life?”
Be compassionate and honest with yourself. You're growing and changing, and that takes work. Don't scold or belittle yourself during this process. You're seeking answers, not self-incrimination. You want to witness the thoughts and feelings instead of getting tangled in them.
No one's perfect. We might unknowingly have beliefs around money, time, and ethnicity—you name it—buried deep in our subconscious. If we pay attention to the thoughts roaming around our big, beautiful brains, we can start to clean up old thought patterns that no longer serve the people around us or us.