your thoughts don’t define you

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

– Jon Kabat-Zinn

Oftentimes, we are advised to change our thoughts if we want to change our circumstances. However, getting a grip over unwanted thoughts and feelings and replacing them with positive, uplifting ones is far easier said than done.

Our mind is nothing but an endless thought-generating machine. It spits out a constant stream of thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and images that often have minimal to no connection with actual reality. That’s why, getting entangled with them is a sure-fire way to get stuck in the downward negative spiral.

We all have the power to choose which thoughts to associate ourselves with. Mindfulness and meditation can help us tap into this power. 

Mindfulness isn’t about controlling your thoughts and emotions. Rather, it’s about identifying them, and becoming more aware of them. It’s about looking at them objectively and realizing that they don’t define you. When you become an observer, instead of getting attached to these thoughts and using them to define your identity, you learn how to let them go, so you can show up more fully present with enhanced vitality and vigor.

You don’t need to go to a retreat and/or participate in excruciating courses lasting several weeks to months. Developing greater awareness is something you can do in just a few minutes a day – no matter what is happening in your world! Once you establish a dedicated discipline to practice mindfulness and meditation every single day, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can transform your energy and change your mood completely without any massive intervention.