Choosing Thoughts

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”  - William James

You get to decide how good or bad your life is. Did you know you have that power? You absolutely do. We all do! It all comes from how we choose to view the world and our life situations. Perspective is truly everything. Your perspective determines how good or bad your life is. And you have the power to consciously choose the thoughts that shape what your perspective will be. So let’s look at choosing thoughts and start there. Here are different potential perspectives of the same situations.

Situation: Your house burns down.

Possible view: I have the worst luck. Poor me. How could this happen to me? I have lost everything I own. I have nothing. I have to start all over again. I’m ruined.

Alternate view: I am so lucky no one was hurt or killed in the fire. I have the best luck. I’m thankful to be alive. How did I get so blessed? I still have everything that truly matters. I get a fresh start to begin again and it can be even more beautiful. I’ve realized what is truly precious to me. I actually have an even greater appreciation for so many things now.

Situation: Your partner leaves you.

Possible View: I am obviously completely unlovable. I’ll never be happy. Even if our relationship wasn’t that great, at least I had someone.

Alternate View: I will always honor and appreciate the time we had together. I will be happy again, maybe even more happy. I have a chance to find myself again now. To focus on me. What do I like? What makes me happy? I realize my happiness does not come from someone else, it comes from within. I bet there is someone out there for me when the time is right. My next relationship will enrich my life in ways I can’t even imagine yet.