Don’t Let the Story Rule You
The power of the mind is amazing. The insanity is equal in measure.
You’ve heard it before, “don’t believe everything you think.” You’ve also heard “thoughts become things.” Both statements are true.
For most of my adult life I’ve been a glass-half-full girl. The bottom may be ready to fall out and I’ll still see the bright side … Until the day I don’t. That day was yesterday.
My schedule was thrown off first thing. Upon rising I typically spend an hour in spiritual practice. I didn’t. I wasn’t myself. I let others get to me. And then I let the narrative of what I thought would happen take me under.
I was around a person who drains my energy (not with but in the same vicinity for most of the day — just as bad). The drain became a leak. I let the narrative run wild. Mom’s cancer seeped into my mental state. The leak grew bigger and by six I was ready for bed.
Instead of succombing to it, I forced myself to slow down. I did a short practice and took a three mile hike, but it was too late. I cried myself to sleep, continuing to dramaticize the events of the morning. That thing involved my daughter, and in true mom fashion I showed a different, more positive face to her. She was ready to go. She didn’t get sucked into my story — thank goodness.
And guess what? None of it materialized. The thing I thought would happen didn’t. The complete opposite thing happened. None of the made-up stories came true.
Don’t believe everything you think. Don’t let your stories direct your actions. They’re not always true. In fact, they’re often not.
Slow down. Pay attention. Notice how you are feeling. See the stories for what they are — narratives in your head. Remember, FEAR stands for false evidence appearing real. Harness your energy. Put practices in place that support you.
And believe in the possibility that anything can happen.
Because it can — and often does.
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Heather is a holistic health writer and yoga educator. She shares here daily as part of her personal writing practice — mostly lessons about embodied living, yoga and personal development. Cheers to a life well lived!
