As we head into the tail end of October it occurs to me that this month goes out with sweetness in the fun of Halloween. It’s almost like this day is priming us to look for what’s good in preparation for Thanksgiving.

It’s interesting to notice how your mindset is primed. Is it focused on what’s good or what’s bad?

I saw this question posed on Instagram the other day and it got my attention.

That’s a thought-provoking question and also makes you wonder about how you use the power of you mind. No matter what you are looking for, it’s likely you’ll find it.

Worry is a nasty little habit. We use it as a way to fool ourselves into a sense of control. But what we are really doing is making the present moment unpleasant.

While anytime can be an opportunity for thankfulness, as we move closer to the holidays it seems even more appropriate.

I have been working on training my mind to look for all the things that go well each day, that make me smile or give me a little chuckle and I write them down in the moment so I don’t forget. I have a notes file on my phone that I keep record of them. The reason I do it in the moment is that I tend to forget the good little things that happen. Mostly because I haven’t been focused on those so they’re easy to forget. Meanwhile the little semi-negative things are like Velcro at times. I think that’s mostly because it’s what I have practice. It’s a habit I have accidentally created.

There isn’t anything too small to make note of. If someone smiles at you at the grocery and you genuinely smile back, write it down. If you get a close parking spot even if you weren’t looking for one, write it down. If your tea brews just perfectly and it’s the right temperature the moment you bring it to your lips, write it down.

You get the idea. One of the best ways to break a habit is to begin another habit that keeps you so busy you don’t have time to think about the other one. You are basically crowding out the old behavior you wanted to lose anyway. And even better, at the end of the day share your highlights with someone in your life. Instead of practicing sharing all the bad stuff that happened, let’s give the more positive headlines.

It’s like the meme that runs all over social media. I’ve seen it many times over the last few years:

It’s funny but it’s also a great example of adding something new to distract you from something you want to let go of. Instead of focusing on not gossiping and drama, you instead just drink a lot of water that keeps you from having free time around the water cooler, so to speak. And you are finally hydrating yourself in the way you really need to be. Win- win!

Our mind will give back to us what we put in. Let’s start giving it good stuff and soon enough you’ll get good stuff back. Promise. It’s like karma only better.

Sunshine & Sarcasm,
Lowi & G