During my quiet time this morning I had a few random insights come to me.
I found myself feeling a bit scrambled, my thoughts were kinda bouncing all over the place. As I sat there taking my first sips of coffee, I began feeling more and more anxious, and I could sense some underlying feeling of worry or dread. And as I contemplated it all, trying to analyze where it was coming from, that feeling increased, more thoughts came crashing in, and as a result they produced more unsettled feelings. Sometimes I get too much up inside my head, but I sort of like being that way though because I like to feel like I’m in touch with everything that is going on with me, and I like to try and understand myself. Hah!
Well, while this all was happening I was also acutely aware that I was the one allowing my thoughts to run amuck. I don’t have to think whatever just pops into my head, and I don’t have to let my thoughts dictate to me what mood I’m going to be in for the day. I can direct my thoughts, take control over them and not let them control me.
The thing with thoughts is that they produce feelings, whatever you are thinking will affect what you’re feeling. I want to feel happy and good (heck, don’t we all?), but in order to do that I have to get my way of thinking to line up accordingly.
People talk about not being ruled by your emotions, well that’s all fine and good, but the simple fact is that we usually are. What I think is that we need to take control of our thoughts, and not be ruled by our thoughts. As we rule them, we will also then inadvertently have control over our emotions as well. Bingo! Lightbulb!
And not only do our thoughts produce feelings, but our thoughts give off energy too. And I believe we draw and attract things to ourselves based on what sort of energy we are giving off. I have seen the manifestation of this theory in my own life. I’m not going to elaborate any further on that right now though because I’m writing about something else. 😉
Once the feelings get involved it’s much harder to take control of your thoughts, emotions can be so powerful, but even as hard as it is, it’s also simple and basic… you just choose. But once you choose, the next thing you need to do is start taking action that helps you make that choice. Find something that forces a shift in your way of thinking, causes a conscious effort on your part that demonstrates your decision. For me this morning it was a quote from the Bible that came to mind that helped me take action. Now, regardless of your own personal beliefs, you’ve got to admit this is some pretty good advice…
“… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”
Incidentally, the preceding verses to that one are all about rejoicing, not being anxious, being thankful, and having peace. Which indicates to me that by doing this ~ changing the way you think and choosing to think about good things, is part of the answer to obtaining those. So I did just that. And as I reflected on what is true, what is lovely, what is praiseworthy etc., I wrote it down in my journal and I slowly began to feel better. I directed my thoughts toward good things and that resulted in changing my emotions, which then also produced more positive thoughts, and then at the end… a deep sense of gratitude for everything in my life. I must say that I’m feeling pretty darn good right now in comparison to how I was feeling earlier. 🙂 And gratitude is the key.
I may go even further and possibly do a study on each of those words ~ true, honorable, right, pure, and lovely, so that I can fully grasp their meaning and apply them accordingly with regard to my thoughts.
But not today, because in a little while I’m going to head out to a few garden centers and peruse among the “lovely” things, to get those creative gardening juices flowing. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, spring is coming, and I’m feeling excited about being able to get back out in my garden ~ in spite of the fact that it’s only 20 degrees outside right now. 😉
One other random thought that I had this morning is a bit on the silly side. I received a set of four beautifully handmade crocheted snowflake ornaments from a friend for Christmas, and they are so pretty that I couldn’t bring myself to pack them away with the rest of the Christmas decorations, so I hung them on a plant that I have in my bedroom. Well, I got to thinking… maybe having these still out is somehow prolonging winter. Haha silly I know, but I took them down just in case. 😉
But not before I snapped a picture.
Farewell pretty little snowflakes, it’s time for spring
and time to think of gardening things.
~
Ramblings From Jewels 