Cherry-pick your thoughts.

The lock down days were surreal to begin with, but as time passed I developed an air of quiet resignation.

Most conversations were sprinkled with words like- Routines, Family time, Cabin fever, and Work from home. With time, Zoom parties and Dalgona coffee lost the excitement and engagement it first elicited. Humorous lock down memes and minute by minute corona updates didn’t hold my attention any longer.

At that point it seemed to me, that the only way to disengage from all the predictions, messages , advice, opinions and uncertainty around, was to turn my attention inwards; To Understand the internal landscape of thoughts and feelings that reigned in there

Tuning into the mind isn’t easy …atleast it wasn’t for me.

There is a whole different world in there; An ongoing process of interaction, where thought after thought pass by like cars on a busy street. Ruminations of the past and predictions for the future occupy the large spaces; The present slips away unobserved. The mind with its own ebb and flow of thoughts ends up sometimes murky, sometimes calm and sometimes unsettled.

I Think so it is ……. That’s what one believes; But why should I be at the mercy of my internal chatter?

Did I need to engage with all of my thoughts or could I allow some of them to pass by?

I saw that the focus and feeling with which I attend to my thoughts determined my mood.

It occurred to me very rapidly that, It’s what you think of, when you are alone that determines the kind of day you have.

I can choose to be joyful by focusing my thoughts on the moments that made me smile, or I could choose to focus on thoughts that elicit anger, guilt or doubt.

There is always a Choice.

I made a conscious effort to scan through my days and bring to mind those moments that made me truly happy. Bask in those moments, relive those moments, feel and enjoy my positive experiences; Bring to mind the sights , the smells, the visions of that place and try to recreate the experience…feel the joy and hold on to it.

I began to practice savoring the present. When I felt good, I paid attention to it.

Let’s say I am enjoying a warm shower. I took time to soak in all the sensations — the smell of soap, the warmth of the water, the feeling of relaxation. Simply being in the present and feeling the bliss.

Its easy to cruise through life on autopilot without allowing yourself to pause and savor the many beautiful moments during the day. I’ve been guilty of that one.

Now, I pause every now and then, to bring to mind the Bright Spots in my day. The moments that I have savored — luxuriate in those moments, feel the emotions associated with them, stay with them until they fade away and then get back to what I was doing.

The more I nourish my soul with these thoughts the more I experience joy and calm.

Today as I watch my cruising thoughts, I am able to recognize the ones that hinder my ability to enjoy life, and I let them roll by. Instead I cull out my positive experiences and dwell on them with appreciation and gratitude.

If up until now you were of the belief that you are at the mercy of your thoughts and moods that seem to be propelled by this unseen force, I urge you to step back, observe your thoughts, sift through your them and deliberately choose the ones that fill you with joy and fulfillment.

It is unlikely that you will think only of positive experiences, but with practice you can learn to let unwanted thoughts pass by and intentionally choose to engage with those thoughts that energize and uplift your spirits.