Fix this not that

We are busy trying to fix what's out there, instead of making it pleasant in here. (Source: Unknown podcast)

What's on your mind? What are you thinking about? Is it peaceful and pleasant in there? Or is it scattered, anxious, and overwhelmed?

Matthew Kelly writes, "What happens in our lives is almost always a result of things we habitually think and habitually do."

It starts with our habitual thoughts. How we think about ourselves, others, and everything in our lives.

Before we do, we think.

Are your thoughts helping you or getting in your way?

Are they encouraging and supporting you or are they critical?

Can you see what you've done well or only what you haven't accomplished?

If we want to feel better and do better, we have to think better. We have to make it "pleasant in here" before we can fix what's out there.

Managing our thinking is a skill. And like any other skill, it can be learned and practiced. It's a skill that can make a huge impact in our lives.

Being self-critical isn't helpful.

Setting unreasonable expectations leads us to feeling inadequate.

There is a better way.

Celebrating wins and noticing our progress makes a difference.

Reasonable expectations help us feel more confident and hopeful.

Knowing we don't have to be perfect to move forward. Being kind to ourselves when we fall short. Being human means our best sometimes isn't great, or even very good. And that's ok.

When we take some of the pressure off, we don't do less. We feel better, so it's easier to do better. More importantly, we enjoy our lives more because we have made it "pleasant in here".

Be kind to yourself. Start there. And see what happens.

Until next time,
- Mandy