“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results.”
– Attributed to Albert Einstein
Here I am, sitting down for lunch in the Staff Room.
The Staff Room is buzzing. Buzzing with people. With conversations.
But, what I really mean by conversations… is complaints…
The Staff Room is the place for venting. Apparently.
Here, staff vent about their students. They vent about coworkers. They vent about their families and home life.
I only listen.
I don’t chime in.
I don’t contribute to their complaints.
Because, I just don’t get it..
I See These People Do and Say the Same Things… Every Day…
“Why can’t Kellen just listen?! His personality is too hard to teach…”
But, have they done anything different to help this kid?
Nope.
“Mrs. Bell in the office is always ignoring me.”
Well, have they tried saying ‘Good Morning’? Or asked about her day?
Nope.
“My husband and kids drive me crazy! I’m just too tired to deal with them after work!”
But, have they scheduled any time for self care? Have they done anything proactively?
Nope.
How Can Anyone Expect Anything to Change, If They Don’t Change?
To get different results, we need to do something different.
We can’t rely on our current habits and conversations if we are expecting different results.
Same goes with the staff room table… No one benefits from engaging in the same complaints day after day. And no one has taken any step to change their outcomes.
So… How can they expect the next day to be any different?
What Are Your Goals?
Do you want to have better days at work? Do you want to be happier? Do you want to be healthier? Do you want to make more money?
Whatever your goals, wishes, or dreams are…
Ask yourself:
Do Your Habits Match Your Goals?
Chances are, if you’re stuck in the same cycle of complaints, then they don’t.
You’ve been doing the same thing each day.
Same habits, same you.
Things will never change.
If You Want REAL CHANGE, You Need To Be The Change!
You want less stressful days at work?
Can you change something about your day? Or… go out on a limb and change careers entirely!
You want to be happier?
Can you start looking for joy in each day? Can you start practicing gratitude?
You want to be healthier?
Can you make a step towards healthier habits? Can you eat more vegetables? Or find ways to move your body daily?
You can.
You just need to align your habits – what you say and do – with your goals.
To experience external change, you need to tackle internal change.
Well, September is almost over… And that means our focus this month has been getting back into a routine with work and school.
Oh has it…?
Has it been tricky to get back into a routine this new school year?
If it has, don’t worry – You’re not alone!
This blog post is especially for you to help you make the most of your routines!
With routines, we can build positive habits into our lives.
If you had to implement just ONE routine into your day, design yourself a morning ritual that will assure a thriving day ahead.
A solid morning routine can set the motion for your whole day.
Morning routines have shown to make us
Happier,
Healthier, and
More Productive
Does your current morning do this for you?
If not, here is how to construct yourself a morning ritual that will guarantee a successful day and successful life:
#1. A Successful Day Begins With a Successful Night:
Making sure to get enough, consistent sleep, will allow for an easier wake up the next day. Sleep is crucial for our brains and bodies to get the rest they need – it improves our memory, learning, decision-making and even our creativity. Another way to enhance our mornings is to get our mindset ready the night before. We can do that with some positive affirmations like:
“Tomorrow will be a great day…”
“I will wake up with ease…”
“I will accomplish everything I need tomorrow…”
#2. Don’t Let Your Phone Be The First Thing You Grab Upon Awakening:
Many of us start our days by checking our emails or social media, but this isn’t what will set our days up for success. Often, we get stuck in “the scroll”… Wasting time scrolling through feeds… While we may see it as useful or a fun way to start the day, our subconscious is busy comparing ourselves to others… Not a way to take on the day.. We need to start off the day with something(s) that nourishes our soul and allows us time to focus on ourselves.
#3. Get a Moment Of Silence:
This silence could mean meditation (if you’re into it), or visualizing your day, or your future! You may even want to use this moment of silence to contemplate a problem that you need to solve. Meditating, Visualizing, and Contemplating help us feel more in control of our days. And our lives. And you don’t have to carve out a large chunk of time either- it could be 30 seconds, or a few minutes… You get to decide!
#4. Exercise Your Brain:
This could be done by journaling, or reading, even through art. Use your interests to decide how you want to start the morning exercising your brain. Taking the time to exercise your brain helps to improve its functioning, balances both hemispheres of the brain, and helps to keep it sharp with age!
#5. Get Your Body Moving:
Find what works for you! If you HATE running… Don’t force yourself to run in the mornings. It will end up working against you. Tailor this to your interests. It can be something as simple as stretching, or doing 10 minutes of yoga, maybe weight training or some cardio. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you enjoy doing. And something that’ll get you excited to get out of bed in the mornings!
“This is great and all, but what if I don’t have time?”
Then, I would ask you… are YOU not worth making the time for?
I say, YOU ARE WORTH IT!
No one said you have to carve out a whole hour in your morning to have a successful day ahead! I mean, you can eventually get there.. if you want to.
But begin with waking up just 10 minutes earlier.
That’s it!
Adding 10 minutes in the morning to guarantee an accomplished day…
There’s one thing in particular that has been weighing me down…
It’s that I can’t speakSpanish…
Even after 6+ years in grade school taking the language and being part of a Spanish family, I still can’t speak it fluently. Most definitely not comfortably.
Here’s the thing…
My Mom Is From Chile In South America. My Dad, On The Other Hand, Is Canadian.
We never spoke the language at home while I was growing up. Except for a few key words like “hola” and “ciao”.
While all my cousins were busy picking up the language that was being spoken around them, I couldn’t put together a single sentence. I couldn’t even have a conversation with my grandparents…
This Past Fall, My Grandfather Suffered a Stroke.
He wasn’t able to recover.
Just before Christmas, he passed away…
My Grandpa – We called him Papi, my Mother and I as a baby!
I thought long and hard about how my entire life I never had a full conversation with him – not unless someone translated for us.
I wish the language had stuck. I wish I could’ve had a real conversation with him.
Because He Had One Heck Of A Story To Tell…
During the 1970’s, Chile was anything but a peaceful place.
The military overthrew the Popular Unity government of President Salvador Allende. This was the start of military rule in the country.
Many Chilean citizens like my Grandfather, supported the efforts of President Salvador Allende. He brought civilian rule, stability and peace to the country.
But all of that ended in 1973 when President Allende was killed and the General of the Military Coup took over.
Dictatorship reigned…
It became illegal to show any support for the old government.
And my grandfather…
Well… He was an activist who supported the old government.
My Grandparents together back in Chile
My Grandmother – My Mami – in the middle with all of her daughters – My Tia’s – around her
The military dictatorship would raid homes and look for signs of support.
They found my grandfather.
He was taken away. He became a prisoner of this war.
I wish I could have asked him about it. I wish I could have gotten more details.
Although, even if I spoke Spanish, I don’t know that he would have been able to tell me everything without crying.
He disappeared for some time…
And when he returned to his family, they (along with other families who supported the old government) fled to Argentina.
But in Argentina, things weren’t any easier.
Homes were raided again and again by the military in search of supporters of the old government.
My mom, who was only 5 at the time, tells me how she remembers being forced out of their little temporary home and shuffled down the stairs with her 7 siblings. They would all wait until the search was over and they could return up the stairs.
I was told that my grandpa carried a picture of the old president and hid it while in Argentina. Luckily, they never found it.
Eventually, my family was able to leave the war-ridden land in search of a new home.
This picture was taken in Winnipeg, Manitoba when my Grandparents and their family first landed in Canada
A New Home In Canada.
A friend of mine in university once wrote a paper on my grandfather. She interviewed him about his time as a prisoner in Chile.
Sadly, her computer was stolen and I never got the chance to read all that he said.
Another reason this regret of not learning Spanish hung heavily on my shoulders.
But…
This Blog Post Is Not About Regret.
It’s about REFLECTING and LEARNING!
After all this, I realized… I still have one grandparent left – My beautiful Abuela.
And she has her own story to tell.
I decided that I didn’t want a language barrier to be the reason my grandmother could not tell me her story either.
So…
I Took Action!
I made the decision to learn Spanish (finally)! For my grandmother and my grandfather.
And… I used the practice of Mindfulness to help me shift into a growth mindset to learn this new language!
My Grandparents and my Parents at my Baptism when I was only a few months old!
Here’s how I’ve been learning Spanish with the help of Mindfulness:
1. Find Calm:
My first step in moving forward in my Spanish journey was to practice forgiveness. I had to forgive myself for not learning Spanish earlier. I had to let go of the past and move forward with the present. I had to find my calm and not let the past control my future. It all began with that mindset shift. To reflect and learn from my mistakes. And to remind myself that it’s never too late to learn something new.
2. Get Curious:
To learn from my past self and move forward, I had to ask myself a few questions. Questions like “Why hadn’t I been able to retain the language before?” “What can I do differently this time around?” “What can I use to motivate myself?”
Upon reflecting, I noticed that when I tried to learn Spanish before, it was as an adolescent. I was a kid who didn’t care and a kid who was not self-aware. I’ve changed since then and so has my motivation to learn Spanish. I was able to use these questions to nail down my WHY and HOW I wanted to proceed.
3. Make Connections:
Since I did have some experience being around the Spanish language, I could understand it slightly (only if someone spoke REALLY slowly), but I couldn’t speak it. I knew, to get better at speaking the language, I had to practice speaking the language.
I made plans to connect with family members and friends where we could have real conversations in Spanish. I even got myself a few penpals, young cousins of mine, who’d help me practice my written Spanish! I am grateful for my family’s patience with me.
4. Get Creative:
Since I was no longer in school, and didn’t have a dedicated time and class to attend Spanish, I had to figure out my own schedule to practice. I had to get creative!! And because speaking is much harder for me, I knew I had to practice any chance I got!
I live about an hour from most of my Spanish family and being with them all the time is not ideal.
So… this meant I started speaking to my boyfriend in Spanish (who is definitely NOT Spanish), I started speaking to my pets and even shared some of my thoughts out loud in Spanish. I realize I looked pretty crazy some days, but you gotta do what you gotta do!
5. Make a Commitment:
The final step was to make a commitment. To myself. To this life-long journey. And to not get discouraged when the going gets tough.
To make this commitment manageable, I broke down my commitments into small attainable goals. Goals that I could work towards every day. I adopted this practice of ‘Kaizen’ (a Japanese word that means continuous improvement through small, incremental steps). I committed to practicing 15 minutes of Spanish everyday through the Duolingo app. This was manageable. This has been something I’ve been able to commit to.
I also made the commitment to visit my Spanish family more. To speak with them more. I used to be embarrassed to visit them… Because I couldn’t really speak to them. But not anymore. Now, I CHOOSE to visit them to learn from them. Now, I feel like I belong.
Is There Something You’ve Been Wanting To Learn, But Something Has Been Holding You Back?
Maybe it’s a language too, or maybe you want to learn how to cook. Or maybe you’ve been waiting years to finally pick up that old guitar and learn how to play it.
Whatever your challenge is, I hope you can use this story as inspiration to push through those obstacles.
To use the power of Mindfulness to move forward in your learning and growth.
Are you struggling with the same recurring problems in your life?
Tired of wasting time, coming back to the same issue again and again…?
Are you the type of person who deals with issues as they come up?
You like bandaid solutions. You put out fires with a quick fix. And you continue on with your day.
The thing is, you can’t bandage a wound that needs stitches…
Eventually, the issue comes back.
You end up wasting more time and more energy on the same task.
Over and over again…
Quick fixes end up being more time consuming.
Is this really the best use of your time?
Well, what if I told you that you can solve a problem once, Without the chance of it reoccurring?
It’s possible if we can understand the value and adopt the concept of…
“Upstream.”
You might be wondering… “Does it involve swimming…? Because I am not a fish…”
It’s nothing like that at all!
So What Is Upstreaming?
Upstreaming is a concept I learned about in the book ‘Upstream: The Quest to Solving Problems Before They Happen’ by Dan Health.
The author, Mr. Health, explains how we, as humans, have become reactive to problems that come up in our lives. We often get stuck in this cycle of response.
Problem comes up… We respond.
Problem comes up a second time… We respond again.
What we don’t normally do is think about how we can prevent that problem from taking place again.
Look For Patterns
It’s up to us to analyze these patterns of problems in our own lives. As small or big as they may be.
It doesn’t matter the size of the problem. What matters is that you become aware of the problem…
Once you are aware, you can ask yourself this essential question:
“How can I upstream this?”
Or, “What can I do to prevent this problem from returning?”
This question makes all the difference.
You go from responding to problems…
… To preventing them!
Which means you’ll gain back time to focus your energy on other areas of your life!
Don’t waste time and energy solving the same issue time and time again..
“Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality…”
– Earl Nightingale
It’s true.
The habits we chose to nourish our soul with each day are the ones that end up governing our lives…
Like caring for flowers in a garden, we can give our minds the nourishment they need for us to bloom.
If left unattended, our flowering minds begin to wilt…
How can we Harness the Power of the Subconscious?
Maybe you’ve noticed you have the ability to do some things without thinking much about them.
Have you ever found yourself lost in thought while driving to work… And when you arrive, you don’t remember how you got there…?
A little scary… But that’s your subconscious mind at work!
We don’t have to put a conscious effort into some things, like driving to work, because already we’ve engrained these patterns into our brain through daily repetition and practice.
It’s like running on autopilot.
We do many things on the daily where our subconscious mind takes over.
If We Aren’t Careful, Our Subconscious Mind Can Work Against Us…
If we are building patterns of negative habits like:
Constant Complaining
Negative Self-Talk
Unwillingness to try/learn new things (stubbornness)
These types of habits work against us.
They don’t allow room for growth or change.
And they affect our health and well-being – and not in a good way…
So, How Do We Make Our Subconscious Mind Work For Us?
We harness the power of our subconscious mind by building in positive daily habits.
Habits like:
Practicing Gratitude
Positive Morning Routine
Stretching our Minds with Reading and Writing
Being open to New Things and Ideas
I Used to Hate the Saying:
“Fake it till you make it.”
But now, I embrace it.
Because our subconscious mind works in exactly this way.
We may not always feel grateful, or happy, or like putting in an effort…
But by making it a daily habit to ‘fake it’, overtime, your mind will start believing it…
And all of those positive habits… will be switched on autopilot!
And THOSE are the habits that will get you somewhere.
Those are the habits we need for growth and happiness.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”
-Leo Tolstoy
Humans have this desire to change the world.
To make a difference. To have an impact. To leave a legacy.
It is human nature.
We Think BIG!
Make plans on a grand scale.
We see all the suffering and devastation in the world and we look to outer sources to solve those problems.
We think the answer lies outside of ourselves.
But, What If The Answer Lies Within?
What if we can take the steps to change our inner world in order to make improvements in our outer world?
The Inner World is a Reflection of our Outer World.
The world is a mirror.
It reflects back to you what you put out to it.
Consider the kind of energy you carry around on a daily basis.
The energy of your emotions, your thoughts and your feelings…
Energy is Everywhere.
Whether we see it or not.
Our personal energy has the capacity to influence those around us.
It influences individual energies.
And it influences global energy.
Change Your Vibration To Change The World!
Look within.
What kind of energy do you carry?
Is it world-changing energy?
Is it the kind of energy you hope to see in others?
If it is, you’re on the right path!
This is how we change the world.
To make a difference. To have an impact. To leave our legacy.
“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”
If you’re like me, you turn to a good book when you’re looking for answers.
We reach for the newest Self-Development, Spirituality, Finance or Business book on the shelf. Then, down it like a glass of ice-cold water on a hot day.
Books like:
The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene Brown
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Or the classic: Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
I’ve read all of these books.
I learned something from each of them.
But let me tell you, none of these books were as impactful as the children’s picture books I’ve read…
Picture Books For Adults.
While picture books are written to entertain children, I am convinced that they are actually designed for adults.
The lessons to be learned in a good picture book are just as important for us to digest.
Why?
The thing is, adults get corrupted by life. We get lost along the way.
We have busy lives, stressful jobs, and needy families.
The magic of simplicity and childhood gets tossed aside.
Forgotten.
We only have time to focus on the “grown up” stuff.
We forget to nourish our inner-child.
Picture Books Pack a Punch.
All it takes is a 5 minute picture book to get whacked in the face with a heart-warming lesson. It hits us right in the feels…
We learn about life. We learn about ourselves.
They make us think:
“Oh right… that IS important… I should value that more…I should make more time for that…”
They bring us back to our inner-child.
Our Brains Love Stories.
A human’s brain is wired to digest and break down stories.
We analyze them and search for the meaning behind them.
Kids’ brains do this. Adults’ brains do too.
Think about it…
The hieroglyphics in Ancient Egypt…
… Drawn-out stories!
The tales from Indigenous groups…
… More stories!
Classic moral-inducing fables…
…. All stories!
Stories Are Human Nature.
It’s how we make sense of the world.
So, the next time you’re reaching for the newest self-development or non-fiction book… I challenge you instead… to grab a picture book!
You never know what lessons you’ll find…
Or what lesson will find you!
With love,
Miss T.
Mindful Miss T’s Recommendation of the Day!
Maybe
By Kobi Yamada
A BEAUTIFUL picture book (That I am convinced is written for adults too!) about the endless potential in us all.
I received this book as a birthday gift last week and it reminded me of my purpose and reason for being here on this Earth. It reminded me that everyone has their own purpose. That everyone is here for a reason. Whatever that reason may be. And it is up to us to share our purpose with those around us. That WE are capable of anything.
I’ve been on quite the adventure for the last 18 days…
But,
I’m finally back and ready to take on the world!
On vacation, I visited different places all around British Columbia, Canada.
(If you’ve never been, I highly recommend planning your next road trip there!)
My boyfriend and I drove around from inland B.C. all the way to the west coast where I got the see the ocean for the first time – Yes, I said FIRSTtime.
We saw the mountains landscape change. We visited friends. We relaxed on beaches and found solitude in the forests…
Like I said, it was quite the adventure!
I’m always grateful for adventures – Especially with my travel partner by my side.
This time… I’m feeling extra grateful!
Grateful for the reset, but also grateful for insights I had while on my trip.
Some insights were things I had realized before, but vacation provided a gentle reminder.
Others were complete revelations!
Today, I’d like to share these insights with you!
Maybe you can relate because you’ve had similar insights from your last vacation.
Or maybe, it’s been a while and you could use the reminder too.
So… Here it goes!
5 Lessons Learned From My Travels Across B.C.:
#1: Get Outside!
And as often as you can! Connect with nature and Mother Earth. Spending time reconnecting to our natural roots is healing for the mind, body and soul. It’s a beautiful way to reset.
I knew this before, and I am reminded again by the way I feel now. I am reinvigorated and feeling ready to take on the world!
English Bay in Vancouver, B.C.
#2: Reconnect with Friends (Or Make New Ones)!
Distance is not a good reason to lose touch. But don’t beat yourself up if you have lost touch… It’s never to late to reconnect! And road trips are the PERFECT way to do just that! We managed to get 3 different visits in during our time in B.C. and I’m so glad we did!!
What if you don’t have friends in other places? Make NEW friends! Get yourself out there and connect! Chances are, you’ll run into friendly locals or even some who are on their own travels. You just never know what friends you might find! They may even become friends for life! Connection is fulfilling. And a human necessity.
Meeting NEW friends at Shambhala Music Festival!
#3: Challenge Yourself!
Try new things and get outside of your comfort zone. Whatever that looks like to you! Maybe its reading a different genre of book than you usually do, or maybe its going zip lining or bungee jumping! Challenging yourself and facing fears is a rewarding experience.
During our trip to B.C., we found ourselves visiting a friend in Vancouver who took us on a WILD bike ride around the coast! We had just been at a music festival and needless to say, we were NOT in the shape to ride that distance in our one speed bikes… 😛 BUT, we did it anyways! No regrets!
During the wild bike ride around the coast with our good friend, Rich!
#4: Harness Your Inner Child With Play!
Play is SO important! – Yes, for adults too! We often get too busy in our work and homes lives that play takes a seat on the back burner on our priorities. But it shouldn’t! Play is essential for our wellbeing. And while on vacation – with no responsibilities and no pressing deadlines – is the PERFECT time to get some play in.
Remember, play looks different for us all depending on what you find fun and what nourishes your soul. For me, play looks like dancing to loud bass-y music in the sunshine surrounded by others harnessing their inner child too. Its okay to be a little silly sometimes. Let loose and let your inner child out!!
Harnessing our inner-children at Shambhala Music Festival!
#5: Scrap Your Calendar (And Phone While You’re At It)!
Who cares what day or time it is when you’re on vacation?! It’s not important! Be present in the moment and cut off your ties with the outside world – As much as you can anyways (You may want to check in or set an alarm when it’s time to go home though :P). Typically, I have a very rigid and strict schedule, but on vacation I’m able to take a break from that rigidity. There’s something exciting about not knowing what time it is other than looking at where the sun is in the sky to decide. Its freeing.
I also choose to put my phone away, with the exception of using my phone to take the odd photo. In fact, my phone was on airplane mode the majority of the time. I didn’t need anything to distract me from the beautiful vacation I was experiencing. I was living in the moment. And I suggest you do too!
Last stop on our trip – Canyon Creek in Golden, B.C.
These are some of the things I hear often when people answer the question:
“Have you practiced mindfulness with your kids today?”
Whether you’re a parent or a teacher… I get you…
Time is a hot commodity that we are always running out of.
Your hands really are full – You’re busy wearing ALL the hats, and doing ALL the things.
BUT, I want to share a secret with you…
You DO Have Time for Mindfulness!
Listen,
When we hear the word mindfulness, we assume we need to carve out a large chunk of time in our days to focus on a single mindfulness practice – like meditation.
This is not the case!
Mindfulness can be weaved in throughout our days, ALL day!
Mindfulness Isn’t Just a Practice…. It’s a State of Being!
We can practice mindfulness when:
We are eating our food mindfully
We are actively listening and engaged in a thoughtful conversation
We are going for a walk and paying attention to our surroundings
The point of mindfulness is to focus our attention on ONE thing – to minimize distractions.
You Don’t Need To “Schedule” Time for Mindfulness.
While you sure can, it is not a necessity! It’s not even a requirement!
It might be helpful at first to write down reminders or come up with a written plan of how YOU want to add mindfulness to your kids (and your) lives.
(Because lets be real here for a moment, if you’re expecting your kids to be more mindful, then you sure as hell be too! Role modelling for the WIN!)
Either way…
You don’t need to add anything or change your schedule around.
You just have to change HOW you view the things that you currently do.
Open Your Eyes to The Possibility of Mindful Moments.
All you need is a minute.
Can you pause more throughout your day to get a quick deep belly breath in with your kids?
Can you use all 5 of your senses to enjoy your meal with your family at the dinner table instead of scarfing it down mindlessly in front of the TV?
Can you put away your phone when talking to your children? Be fully present for them?
YES, YOU CAN!
Mindfulness is a Necessity.
The world is busy and so full of distractions. Anxiety and depression are on the rise – they were well before COVID hit our world. Now, they are increasing at an alarming rate.
Kids (and adults too) are struggling more than ever to cope with stress and manage their ever-changing emotions.
Mindfulness is The Answer.
Living more mindful lives is what will save us.
With mindfulness, our kids will live long and healthy lives. They will more effectively manage their emotions and cope with the uncertainty in the world.
Because we know, uncertainty isn’t going away anytime soon.
We can’t control everything going on around us.
BUT, we can control our response…
We can control our internal states.
I Love the World and It’s Future Generations.
(And I know you do too.)
I envision a peaceful, mindful world – with less people worrying over uncontrollable’s, more people coping and understanding the value of their emotions.
I envision our kids leading their kids. Helping them to live mindfully, and lead healthy, full lives.
Do you notice that your brain comes up with stories?
You’re having lunch with a friend and theres a couple at another table getting into a heated conversation. You can’t actually hear what they are saying but… their faces and body language says it all.
Your mind automatically fills in the blanks.
It begins coming up with stories about what the couple could be arguing about.
“Maybe she caught him checking out the waitress…”
“Or maybe she spent a little too much of their money on those heels..”
No matter how ridiculous or unlikely the story we come up with is, our minds are willing to create it.
Our Brains Are Meaning Making Machines!
Our brains are designed to close loops. It fills in the gaps of missing information as if it is fact.
They label a story as either positive or negative.
But, do you notice….
Our brains lean towards labelling the negative, more catastrophic side of things?
Our Brains Are Designed to Help Us Survive, NOT Thrive…
The brains key function is to keep us safe and out of danger.
This kept us safe when days were simpler….
“Oh snap, that lion is approaching me with hunger in his eyes, I must escape…”
These days, it has definite downsides….
Debilitating, even.
I watched a video recently by Alex Hormozi who perfectly explains the downsides of labelling situations as positive or negative – especially when it comes to our Mental Health…
We See Experiences As Two Opposing Sides of a Spectrum
We label moments in time as either:
Good or Bad
Happy or Sad
Relaxed or Stressed
The problem is, when an experience isn’t ideal, our brains label it as a “negative experience.”
It kicks into survival mode. It tells us that this negative experience is “bad or wrong.”
It wants us to escape it – often by taking medication, or finishing off that 6-pack in the fridge…
The thing is….
These “negative experiences” aren’t bad at all….
They’re What Makes Us Human!
It is okay – in fact – normal to experience both highs and lows.
It’s part of the human experience.
It is a blessing to feel so many emotions – We need not condemn ourselves when we are feeling low.
So, Is Being Human The Problem?
Not at all!
Feeling a range of emotions – ups and downs – is human nature.
Just like it’s our brains nature to help us survive – even if that means telling us irrational explanations to an experience.
It’s up to us to decipher if the labelling going on in our brains is rational or not.
(Hint: most times… its not)
Man’s Search For Meaning
Alex Hormozi ended off his video by sharing a little piece of advice from this book by Viktor E. Frankl…
Viktor E. Frankl – for those who do not know – was a Holocaust survivor. He survived the Auschwitz Concentration Camps in Nazi Germany. His family did not…
In his book, he shares his experiences as a prisoner and the revelation he received about life and suffering.
Viktor’s message is simply this:
“Between our circumstances and our responses, there is always CHOICE. Suffering is OPTIONAL.”
This is coming from a man who has been through the worst of the worst.
Even he can find meaning in suffering.
The key is not eliminating emotional distress or negative experiences, but accepting it as a part of being human.
And being able to find meaning in the madness.
With love,
Miss T.
If You’re Interested In The Alex Hormozi Video I Was Referring To In This Post,
Mindful Miss T. 