Thoughts- Week 3

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character.”

-Lao Tzu

Although Lao Tzu may not have written this quote, its message still matters when we reflect on our thinking. We have learned that focusing on negative thoughts often leads to more negativity. When we recognize that actions become habits, and that habits often begin with a single thought we can see how powerful it is to change our thinking. It is easy to get stuck in old thought patterns and believe things cannot change. Yet, as Heraclitus said, “The only constant in life is change.”

Recognizing that everything is impermanent takes practice, and holding on too tightly can only cause us pain. This practice can guide you to look at a thought, and see it for what it is.

*First catch the thought: Notice when you feel a sudden shift in mood and identify the specific negative thought that triggered it.

*Add the phrase "I am having the thought that..." to create mental distance between yourself and the thought, recognizing it as a mental idea rather than a fact.

*Ask whether the thought is truly accurate, then look for objective facts that either support or challenge it.

 *Reframe the thought into a more balanced, neutral, or constructive perspective.