The first conversation took place in Hawaii.  November of this year I was there at a retreat.  I had asked a lady how she deals with situations when she is feeling uncomfortable.  For example, how does she deal with feeling uncomfortable around certain people or situations she finds herself in?

Her reply had to do with ‘not taking ownership’ of her thoughts.  When thoughts come up, she lets them go through her without claiming them as her own or without identifying with them.  If she is feeling drained she just allows the drained feeling to move through her without thinking the feeling has to do with this or that.  She also added she asks her Divine for the grace to be open, receptive and grateful for whatever is taking place at the time.

The second conversation was with one of my daughters.  When we were talking, she innocently made the comment of how she doesn’t like to talk about what she thinks is happening to her.  She feels talking about what she’s thinking brings her thoughts to life; she said ‘it gets too real’ so she doesn’t do it.

Have you consciously thought about your thoughts lately?  What do you do with the thoughts that run through your mind?  Do you think of them as a truth?  Do you take ownership making them your own and giving those thoughts power over you?

I would be willing to go out on a limb and say if you do…you are like the rest of us in the world.  What can you do to change that?  From my experience, being aware of the thoughts you have, at the time you are having them is the most important step in resolving any uncomfortable feelings you experience along with those thoughts.

The source of your thoughts is not something you have control over at all.  What you do have control over is your awareness and what you do with that awareness.  Recognizing your thoughts are just thoughts helps greatly.  Thoughts will be there one minute and gone the next.  You can’t hold onto a thought no matter how hard you try.  You can’t say, ‘oh I like this thought I’m going to hold onto it.’  Thoughts do not work that way.

Some thoughts come and go and some thoughts stick around for a while.  The thoughts that stick around for a while tend to be the ones you don’t want to think about and can be bothersome in nature.

When you are aware of the thoughts you don’t want to think about….I invite you to consider the following:

1.     Notice how you feel an inner fight or struggle with yourself in relation to the thoughts;

2.     Start to mentally challenge the thoughts, not taking ownership of or identifying with any of them;

3.     Ask your Divine to help you to be open, receptive and grateful for whatever you may be experiencing in that moment.

Thoughts you don’t want to think about can be both positive and negative in nature.

I invite you to observe your thoughts over the next while and let me know what comes up for you.  The learning and growing will offer you much grace in the process.

I would love to hear from you.  You are welcome to share….

As we head into the festive season….I wish you and your families a blessed and prosperous Christmas.  May you experience joy and laughter as you continue to journey forward with each new day.

Sheila Unique, Trainer & Speaker