What’s your mental diet?

By Elisabeth Fayt

Well, here’s some food for thought.

We’re all so concerned about getting our daily “greens”.  But what about the thoughts we habitually chew on?

Important to know: 

Each thought carries within itself, the power to create, whether you acknowledge it or not, and whether you want it to be so, or not. Every thought sends out a signal to the Universe, and begins to create, according to its nature.

So if you want to change your circumstances, change your thoughts!

Just like a diet, thoughts take time to stew before they manifest. Thank goodness, because what would the world be like if thoughts instantly created. We would be inundated with the good, the bad and the ugly, whatever crossed through our minds. 

What about the age-old question: 

Why do bad things happen to good people? Well, you can be outwardly nice and good to others, but if you’re harbouring negative thoughts on the inside, about yourself, others or your life, it’s only a matter of time before those thoughts begin to manifest outwardly. It’s really quite simple, and the good thing is that it’s up to you to make a change, not your family, not your boss, not the economy, only You. So you are in control.

Let’s take a look at some ways we sabotage ourselves from creating what we want:
  1. Feeling hard-done-by? You’re on the road to more! So get off the Woe’s-Me Highway by replacing those thoughts with thoughts of gratitude. Think of what is going well in your life. That’s the quickest way to get your thoughts on track, by replacing a negative thought with a positive one.
  2. Having a fleeting negative thought? It’s okay (and perfectly natural) to have a negative thought. But it’s not okay to hold onto it. Fleeting negative thoughts don’t have much creative power, but when you hold on to those thoughts and make them a habit, that’s when they really start to create your outward circumstances. So next time you have a fleeting negative thought, replace it with the opposite thought (or any positive thought), then hold that thought, because that is the thought that will then manifest.
  3. We all feel guilty sometimes, right? Well, it doesn’t make it right. We can blame it on someone who’s dished us the guilt, or simply blame ourselves for not doing what we thought we ought to have done. Bottom line, guilt creates negative circumstances and more reasons to feel guilty. Let’s get off the Guilt Wheel once and for all. If you have a guilty thought about something you failed to do, then make a promise to yourself you will do it next time and be happy that you’ve made that promise! I’ve even heard of people feeling guilty that they have food while others in the world are starving…and they do this under the guise of compassion! Stop feeling guilty and do something positive instead! You can donate to the homeless shelter, or take a treat over to the neighbours. Perform any act of sharing your abundance with others. Feeling guilty doesn’t do anything for you or others. It does the opposite. So the moment you ever feel guilty about anything, stop and acknowledge the thought, and change it.

If right now you’re thinking that all three of the above have been habitual to you, and you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, then let’s start by making a commitment to do your best. Set your intention that you will start to change your thoughts.  Yogananda’s affirmation is a great way to start:

“I can change.  I have the will to change.  I will change!”  

                                                                     Paramahansa Yogananda

Why don’t you chew on that today….and watch your thoughts start to change for the better.