Dear mind,
You are so helpful sometimes,
Especially when I put you to use for things like planning,
Imagining or creating things in my life.
The helpful thoughts that you have given me have nurtured me and nurtured those around me,
But you aren't always my friend.
You give me thousands of automatic thoughts a day,
Most of which,
Science shows,
Are unhelpful.
And when I get hooked by these thoughts,
I look at the world from them.
I used to do this a lot more.
Looking from my thoughts.
But I have noticed I am looking at my thoughts more often.
At my thoughts instead of from them.
Looking at thoughts helps me see them just as thoughts.
Seeing my thoughts instead of being my thoughts.
Looking from these unhelpful thoughts causes me to get hooked by you,
And when this happens,
I lose out on meaningful connection.
I am learning that I don't deserve to be hooked by such unhelpful thoughts.
What I do deserve is meaningful connection.
When the lightbulb moment happened for me,
It paved the way for me to form a kinder relationship.
Not only with myself,
But also with you,
Dear mind.
And I choose for this more compassionate relationship between me and you to thrive,
Even when you are unfair and unkind to me.
And so,
As I sit in this cafe,
Writing this letter to you,
I make a declaration.
A declaration of my commitment to continue to foster this new,
Wiser,
More compassionate relationship.
This relationship between me and you,
Dear mind.
I am grateful for you giving me the thoughts that you do.
Of course,
I am grateful for the helpful thoughts you give me.
And yes,
I am even now grateful for the unhelpful thoughts,
Too.
Because I now know that these thoughts are an excellent reference point for me to choose from.
To either give energy to,
Or to not give energy to.
And so,
As I sit in this cafe,
Writing this letter to you,
I am so grateful.
This helps me to be part of the mindful change that's going on in the world right now.
Yours sincerely,
With compassion and gratitude,
From me.