Change it up today. We get caught in habits. It’s as if we walk through life on automatic pilot. If we’re not careful our thoughts go on automatic pilot and we don’t question what we’re thinking or why we’re thinking it. Try some small things. If you always stop at Starbucks for coffee, go to a different coffee shop or make your own and take it in your travel cup. If you get delivery meals or eat out, make your dinner tonight. Instead of heading to the sofa after dinner, go for a walk. Change it up. You never know what wonderful creative thoughts will come into your mind.
change
Today’s Thought: Want to Lose 25 Pounds?
There are some things in life you only learn through experience. You can see it, you can understand it, you know it’s true, but you don’t internalize and make it a part of your being. Making something that is so obvious a part of our being requires both an openness to learning and a willingness to change what we have always done to something different. One example is someone else’s drama does not have to be our drama. When we internalize that we free ourselves from carrying a drama king or queens’s problems on our backs. Internalize that and it’s like losing 25 pounds. All of sudden you’re free.
Today’s Thought: Be Open to What the Evidence Says
Everyone has a right to express his or her opinion. Wise people listen to the opinions of others even when they differ from their own. They evaluate their opinion on new evidence and are willing to change when the evidence warrants. A foolish person has fixed opinions and no amount of evidence can sway them from their opinion. They’ll argue and fight over a falsehood never realizing for a moment that the opinion they are defending is not true. Be open to change. Be open to accepting evidence that conflicts with what you believe is accurate.
Today’s Thought: Is it Time for a Change?
One thing is certain about change, we can only change ourselves. We cannot change another person. Our attempts will be futile even when we see something that needs to change. They don’t see it or don’t want to change. Only when the need to change is greater than the effort to change, will the other person decide to change. That’s also true for you and me. Change is an internal mechanism. Each of us has the power to flip our change switch on or off. When we focus on changing ourselves for the better, our life and relationships improve.
Today’s Thought: Change is Possible If . . .
If you can change your mind, you can change your life. ~ William James
William James, father of American psychology, offers deep wisdom. Before we can change our lives, however, we have to desire to change more than we desire to maintain our current behavior. Consider a person who smokes, the person knows smoking is bad for his/her health, yet the person finds immense pleasure in smoking and is reluctant to give it up. When the person is diagnosed with lung cancer, the smoker suddenly has the desire to change his/her mind. Changing our mind takes courage to admit we are dissatisfied with our current status desire to change it to a better alternative. When we can honestly examine our lives and are open to accurate information we can transform our lives for the better.
Today’s Thought: Change is a Constant
A neighbor is moving today. There house is for sale. In this neighborhood it won’t be long before it is sold. I’ll miss them. They were friendly, always said hello, and they were a loving family. Their lives changed. Their daughter will go to a new school and meet new friends. They are off to new jobs and a new home. Back in my neighborhood we’ll have new neighbors to welcome and new relationships to form. The people who move into my neighborhood will be leaving someplace to begin a new adventure here. Nothing stays the same. That’s the lesson of the four seasons. Things are always changing. When we accept change as a normal part of life, we put ourselves in a good place to adjust to the changes as they come into our lives.
Today’s Thought: Changing Bed Sheets
Today’s the day I change my bed sheets. It’s part of my weekly routine. The bed sheets I took off the bed are in the washer and soon will be in the dryer. Changing sheets is a healthy thing. Throughout the week, bed sheets can accumulate sweat, skin cells, oils, and hair. These can serve as a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, which may lead to skin irritations or infections. Changing sheets is a metaphor we can apply to our lives. Set aside a few minutes for reflection. Are there any things you need to change to help you become more physically and emotionally healthy? Pick one thing and then substitute something healthy for it. Amaze yourself!
Today’s Thought: At Life’s Crossroads
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
NOTE: I have a friend who has an addiction. My friend’s addiction is clear to those who love him. It is not clear at all to my friend. He claims he can handle his addiction. His addiction is now affecting him physically. He refuses to see the association between his addiction and his physical problems. He sets up a protective wall around himself that only those who act co-dependently can enter. He’s at a crossroads in his life. As Frankl points out, he is being challenged to change himself. Each of us will find ourselves in situations we cannot change. We can fight those situations and find ourselves increasingly frustrated or we can turn our attention inwards and ask, “How can I change what I am doing now so that I end the suffering I am imposing on myself and act in ways that will improve my life?”
Today’s Inspiring Quote: Change Provides Opportunities
People fear change, Change is not knowing what’s going to happen. People sometimes mistake change as a negative. I look at change as exciting, look at it as an opportunity to make your life better. Fear builds mountains, Faith removes them. It’s time for you to conquer new horizons. Today is going to be a GREAT day for a change!
Episode 29: Grieving Changes the Way You Live
In Episode 29 of my podcast, Journey from Grief to Healing, I describe how my life changed after Babe’s death. I come to the realization that I have a choice: I can drown or swim, there is no in between. I choose to swim. #grieving
You can listen to Episode 29 on your favorite podcasting app. or click here to be taken directly to Episode 29. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button to receive notifications of future episodes.
