Blue Monday Cure!
Happy blue Monday!! Now there is an oxymoron!
Here we are a month into the new year and your life is in this perpetual sate destined to repeat the same patterns, Same $hit different day. This is the day that the holidays are truly at an end, the credit cards bills are rolling in and we are feeling discouraged. You may be out on the road thinking ALL THE THINGS!!!! spinning in eternal possibilities and what if’s … We are evaluating our resolutions and our gremlins have set in – you’re not good enough, you have tried before and nothing has changed, who do you think you are? The days are shorter and yes, they are getting longer but not fast enough. Everything seems daunting and endless. Putting your head down and just doing the work of the day to come home and crumple back to bed to repeat it again tomorrow.
According to UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Center, regularly expressing gratitude (the quality of being thankful and readiness to show appreciation) literally changes the molecular structure of the brain, keeps the gray matter functioning, and makes us healthier and happier.
The issues we face, and sometimes were active participants in creating- will not be solved with the same thoughts and behaviors that they have been created in. The issues and obstacles will not be resolved in the same frequency they were created in. How do we change the frequency?
Looking at all situations from a perspective of control. What do I have control over in this situation? The answer is our thoughts!
I was reminded of Margaret Thatcher’s infamous quote
“Watch your thoughts, for they will become actions. Watch your actions, for they’ll become… habits. Watch your habits for they will forge your character. Watch your character, for it will make your destiny.”
Our thoughts of gratitude change our actions! Thoughts cause emotions –>Emotions cause Actions –> Actions cause results –>
results cause emotions and repeat! We are on a loop, how do we change the loop from the inside?
We have over 90,000 thoughts a day *only 10,000 of which are new to us. These thoughts range from How do I pronounce Venti? Who invented this coffee culture/ lingo anyway? Should I wear pants today? Gosh its cold, should have worn my other shirt, that’s a cute dog, what was I going to pick up from the store? Wonder if the kids are OK, I should call them, am I micromanaging if do? What am I doing with my life? If I could do what I love what would that be? How can I love what I do? Can I love what I do? Am I ever going to get out of debt? Wish I could lose this 20 lbs … and more!
The key is changing the NEW thoughts!
Our brains CAN’T multitask – so when we focus on NEW thoughts – it CAN’T think the old ones! FOCUS ON THE NEW THOUGHTS!
GRATITUDE! Focus as Pollyanna (watch the movie its great) on something to be glad about… Right now, search your mind and find something … Ill wait… Got nuthin? Sometimes I struggle too … some days its hard to look around and find SOMETHING? Just ONE thing? …
Today I am struggling…
Today I got up and changed my face to change my state *that’s another topic- its something that I do to physically alter my mood* I smiled and told myself I was grateful for a new day to start over. I went downstairs and cheerfully said good morning (even though I did not feel cheerful) I got in my car and pulled out of my garage, I sat and took inventory… I got nuthin … so I started small… I was grateful for seat warmers for being able to park in the garage, for the song on the radio and the days getting longer as I could see the sun peaking in on the day. I chose to be grateful for the drive to work and the ability to go to work. I was thankful for hot creamy coffee.
This does not take the devastation of the last few days away, but it changes my perspective, this changes my thoughts and in turn my emotions giving me the opportunity to respond. In my grateful state I am able to respond as Proverbs 15 guides: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly”. I am able to muster gentleness even in consequence and boundaries.
New thought patterns of gratitude and with a full cup I proceed. Not from a place of anger or lacking as my focus has changed to all the things I have – That I am grateful for, and in this new frequency new actions are considered
Change your state. Smile even if you don’t think you can.
Change your thoughts, and you will change your emotional mind – emotions are energy in motion they will move in response to your thoughts. This will change your actions which will change your results in a way you may not have expected!
My thoughts from here as I am remembering that the sunshine is always on the other side … and I’m grateful its still shining somewhere.