How amazing to discover that one simple change in perception can completely change the direction of your day, even your life! Our lives are made up of the day to day decisions and actions, so no matter how small the thought, its influence can be significant!
While I was traveling the other day along a busy freeway, I saw the marquee at the side of the road flashing the dates of the upcoming road construction.
My first thought was, “Oh, great, I’ll be traveling home during those dates! What a pain!” It is such a busy highway and adding construction to the mix always makes it so much more dangerous and more difficult to travel!
Shortly after passing that sign, I noticed how pitted, and bumpy and rough the road was and I thought to myself. “Geez. They really need to fix this road!” Not a second later, I laughed out loud at the irony of these two thoughts, when I realized, – that’s exactly what was being done and what I had previously just complained about!
All of a sudden my annoyance at the thought of having to travel through road construction switched to thoughts of appreciation, knowing that soon the road would be made smooth again.
Funny, how my thoughts determined how I felt and how quickly they changed.
How obvious it became to me, that one minor switch in my thinking created an immediate change in emotion.
I encourage you to pay attention to your thoughts and perceptions and see how quickly you might be able to switch them from ones of annoyance to ones of appreciation.
Have a beautiful day!
Love,
This reminds me of wisdom Mother taught me about words and how powerful they are. Take the word “have.” I have to work. I have to cook dinner. I have to do… I noticed the burden being placed on my shoulders getting heavier. Even unbearable. Depression. Stress building up. Now change the word have to “choose.” I choose to work. I choose to cook dinner. I choose… By changing “I have to” to “I choose to” seems to lighten the burdens I carry. It helps me to see the positive in difficult times. Sometimes it makes unpleasant tasks bearable.
Yes! Very true! Learning that has changed the way I feel about a lot of things! Thank you for sharing and reminding me! We have a very wise mother. 🙂