Hi,
This is Teresa Conte and welcome to Day 24 of 30 Days of Gratitude to Inspire and Uplift You.
Today,
I'd like to share a quote from Philippians 6.
8.
It says,
Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Mmm,
I just love that.
And now,
A thought to ponder.
Giving our attention to what brings us alive and delights us,
Rather than focusing on criticism and judgment,
Whether that be toward ourselves or someone else,
Steers us away from the brain's negativity bias and helps us to see with clearer eyes.
Just for today,
Focus on what makes you smile and pleases you.
It could be something as simple as drinking a refreshing glass of water or snuggling with your dog or cat.
Whatever it might happen to be,
Take a moment to really enjoy it and take it in.
Then,
Let those feelings of pleasantness and contentment sink down inside of you.
You might like to imagine it as a warm ray of golden sunshine flowing through you.
Stay with the pleasant feelings for another breath or two.
Then,
When ready,
Notice any changes in how you feel between the time you started and after the process.
As an added exercise,
You can also stop for a moment throughout the day should there be times when you're aware of criticizing or judging yourself or someone else.
This is all about mindfulness and developing awareness so that we can choose where we want to place our attention.
If you should happen to notice a time when you're criticizing yourself or someone else,
Just take a moment to notice how you feel.
For instance,
Are those pleasant sensations or uncomfortable ones?
Don't judge yourself if you notice yourself doing this.
It's completely human and it's just the way our brains have been trained to operate.
What I do suggest,
If you do notice yourself judging or criticizing yourself or someone else and feel uncomfortable about it,
Take a breath and let the unpleasant feelings go.
If you like,
Try putting your hand on your heart and letting the sensations of warmth,
Self-compassion,
And love soothe you.
Once again,
Take those feelings down deep inside of you.
Having mindfulness about our thoughts and the effects they have on our well-being,
For instance on our emotions and tension or discomfort we may notice in the body,
Offers us an opportunity for change because as we become aware of our habitual thoughts and tendencies,
We have the ability to refocus our attention and change them if we choose.
What is true,
Honorable,
Right,
Pure,
And lovely comes in all shapes,
Sizes,
And forms.
What would you like to focus on today?
Perhaps you might find it helpful to begin by recognizing the small things in your life you're grateful for,
Then expand from there.
I recommend doing this 3,
4,
Or 5 times a day for 10 to 15 seconds each time.
Over time you'll notice that your tendency is more likely to focus on the positive.
Wishing you a most wonderful day!
