In the last article we began to look at how our thoughts affect our sense of wellbeing. We discovered how easy it is at times to down the old pathways in our mind, to play the old programs, even if they are not “programs,” or thoughts, that empower us. The ways we have learned to filter our lives, to perceive the world, become so familiar that oftentimes we do not even realize we are caught up in them. However, we can begin to recognize the thought patterns that do not serve us any longer and choose a new focus.

Changing the old tapes begins with attention. With this attention, we can become more and more aware of where we are focusing our thoughts. At times, even though we may know it is important to focus on what supports us, we can easily slip into old thought patterns and not even realize we are doing that! I was reminded of that today. I have been in the middle of moving and a period of feeling rather overloaded with many obligations. My thoughts were going to places where I was seeing myself as overwhelmed, tired, resentful and fearful I could not accomplish all that had to be completed in the time allotted. My mind's focus was not serving to support me and move me through what I had to accomplish. In fact, my thoughts were carrying me into a downward spiral and leaving me feeling quite stressed out!

As I was in the middle of working to finish a project that I really did not want to do, but had to complete before tomorrow, I was drawn to put an uplifting tape into the player. (It was one of those times when just the right message came my way at just the right moment.) The tape was by Louise Hay. (Hay, Louise, Stress Free, Hay House, 1990) It is a series of affirmations that focus the mind on positive thoughts that promote mental clarity and with relaxing and flowing with events rather than struggling against them. Almost as soon as I started to hear the affirmations on the tape, I began to relax into the work I was doing and it flowed smoothly until the project was finished! My stress disappeared as I changed the focus of my thinking. All it took was that simple shift of my attention.

On this tape, Louise states: “Stress is a fear reaction to life and to life's constant changes. Stress has become a catch word and we use it as an excuse for not taking responsibility for our feelings. If we equate the word 'stress' with the word 'fear' then we can begin to eliminate fear in our lives. A peaceful person is neither frightened nor stressed. Why are we afraid? Why do we give our power away? How can we eliminate that fear and move through life feeling safe?” The answer is that we can do this by changing our thinking. Thus, we can replace the fearful thoughts (fear being anything that is unlike love) with thoughts of joy, of peace, of harmony, of well-being and love.

They key is change: Changing the focus of our thoughts. We tend to resist change even when it is for our own good. An 87-yearold friend of mine, who over the course of the past 6 months has turned her life around and healed herself in many ways, has realized that her healing was a result of changing how she looked at herself and the world around her. The willingness to change is where it begins.

Life is constant change. In order to continue to grow, we must be willing to change our perspectives. As we learn new things, the old perceptions we have carried begin to shift.

Let's teach our children to not to fear the changes…rather to embrace them, to embrace each moment as new! Teach them to love themselves fully in each of these moments and to see with eyes of love. All we have is each moment. And each moment is changing. Embrace each moment and live it to it's fullest. Trust in the process of life. And imagine the Joy that will bring!