Today in yoga the instructor was trying to help new people stay in the room by encouraging them not to buy into the things their mind was telling them. He said, "You are not your thoughts." That sounded a little out of sync to me, even though I understood his intentions.
In effect, I disagree. We are most certainly our thoughts. That is one of the spiritual theories that the hot room proved to me to be true. Today I had an awesome standing series. I stared myself down in the mirror, told myself I was strong. The floor series started off much the same way, but the heat grew intense and we weren't getting a window or a door. I remember thinking how hot my towel was. Next, I told myself my skin was hot. It was getting hard to breathe. I knew right then and there the only thing that was going to change the direction of this practice was to change my thoughts. If I let my mind keep careening down that road, I might as well give up and lie still for the rest of the practice.
I immediately changed my thoughts. I told myself the towel was cozy and if I stayed perfectly still during the 20 second savasana, I could breath just fine. I told myself I was safe and in no danger. I felt my heart rate go down to normal and I really think I actually smiled as I lay there. The rest of the practice went beautifully and I finished as strong as I started.
Outside the hot room I have some hard things to deal with, too. Someone close is very sick. Last night, I started entertaining fear in my mind. I woke up sad, with no energy. After yoga this morning, I sat quietly and contemplated what happened in the hot room when I stopped my thought process and sent it in a new direction. I knew I had to do just that in this very difficult situation. I told myself being sad, fatigued, and fearful would do no good. I was starting that "begging, please, God" type of praying which was only increasing my anxiety. I began to pray for peace and calm for the family so they can attend to the illness and make clear decisions and support each other. I changed my attitude to be one of positive thoughts and prayers sent their way. Then I went to the gym.
I came home a stronger person, realizing the one who was ill was going need people with positive energy around her, encouraging her to fight. Tonight both my attitude and prayers are moving in a very different direction than they were last night. Yes, I truly am my thoughts.
Realizing your ARE your thoughts is a very powerful tool for living a positive, fulfilling life. If you tell yourself you're sick, you will be sick. If you tell yourself you're tired, you'll be tired. If you tell yourself you're always broke, you'll always be broke. If you tell yourself you hate to get up and go to work, you will hate to get up and go to work. You will always attract that which you tell yourself. So, wouldn't the wise thing be to tell yourself positive things? Pray in a positive manner. Write positive things on Facebook and twitter. Start a gratitude journal and write down – yes, write it down – one thing you are thankful for each day. There is something to writing it down, as opposed to just thinking it. The movement of the pen imprints it on your brain, which in turn, communicates it to your heart.
And so, as another day goes by, it has never been clearer to me how much our thoughts really do matter than it was today, and….I have written.
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