Thoughts

Today I’m thinking about mind control. 

“Just don’t think about it,” they tell you as your mind spins out of control. Easier said than done. Our biggest fears seem to replay themselves over and over like a Christmas Story on TMC post thanksgiving day. There seems to be nothing we can do to stop it. 

Although it does nothing to help us, and only causes anxiety, we allow our thoughts to wander continuously back to the things we should be thinking about the least. Ever replaying the words and images of our boyfriend caught cheating, our boss criticizing us, our mothers telling us we’re useless. 

We do it to ourselves. We get worked up over what could be, what might have been, our unfulfilled dreams, and our past failures. We do this because we allow ourselves to do this. We think that replaying these thoughts will somehow change them or bring a solution, but we are wrong. 

Right now is where we live. In this moment, making decisions that need not be dirtied by the past, and do not necessarily impact the future. Our present moment is what dictates our own happiness. 

With every new moment, we are brand new again. We alone control our thoughts and we alone choose how to respond to them. Everything we need from the past, we have already learned. If we want to be happy, we must learn to control our own thinking. Allow ourselves to be happy. 

Do I choose each day to go down the rabbit hole of dark and burdensome memories, or do I choose to think about the things that bring me joy? Do I focus on all of the beautiful people in my life, or the one ugly one? Do I think about how lonely I am, or how entertaining Facebook is? These thoughts are mine to control, and so long as I’m at the helm, this ship is smooth sailing ahead. I refuse to take a raft down the rapids, bloodying my knuckles on the rocks, when I can just as easily be on a luxury cruise enjoying a margarita. 

Our mind is our own, and as we begin to take responsibility for our own thoughts and the direction they take, we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There is nothing disingenuous about thinking nice thoughts. You are not going to become some basic bitch without depth or emotion because you don’t live in the worst recesses of your lovely mind. There is no danger of becoming stupid because you don’t play on repeat the memory of the things you’ve done that weren’t the smartest. 

Allow yourself peace of mind. In the present moment make choices that are sane and reasonable. Let yourself off the hook for past transgressions and allow the most important thing you contemplate today be the menu at your favorite restaurant. When you are presented with choices, definitely make good ones, learn, grow, try hard... but don’t fall into self destructive patterns that bring about suffering. 

I guess all I’m trying to say is that you alone have power over your thoughts. You have the power to choose happiness. You’re allowed to be happy. You control your own mind, and it’s your responsibility to push yourself to think more about the good things in life, and release your mind from the cage of regrets and fears. 

With focus and determination, we can create the space in our own minds in which we actually want to live. It can be a space where the thoughts dance and sway, or it can be a venomous bite, but make no mistake, you are the snake charmer. 

“Take It easy, take it easy

Don't let the sound of your own wheels

Drive you crazy

Lighten up while you still can

Don't even try to understand

Just find a place to make your stand

And take it easy”

#garbageday