“I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want to drink gin straight out of the cat dish.” (Anne Lamott)
Does this sound like you?
We tend to believe our horrible thoughts while we completely ignore our honorable thoughts. We give extreme power to the thoughts we do not wish to have. The horrible thoughts just seem truer somehow. It’s as if we say, “If it scares me, it must be true.”
Horrible thoughts seem real because they are familiar. We practice them daily like a child learning how to play scales on the piano.
Thoughts become “realer” through the power of emotion.
We think “I am unworthy,” or some variation on that theme. It feels “bad” to be unworthy. This feeling “bad” causes an identifiable yet often unconscious physiological reaction. This reaction anchors the thought in the body. We feel something – so we believe the thought must be true.
Then, when we believe a thought, we see it. We gather evidence to support our inner environment. The evidence seems to support our thoughts, whereas in reality, our thoughts support the evidence. We see what we believe.
We think our thinking is true.
But what if our thoughts are not necessarily true?
What if the bad thoughts you think about yourself – your perception of inadequacy, failure, unlovable-ness and unworthiness – are simply a learned, rehearsed and falsely realized habit?
What new thought could you think instead?
Try it and see. It will feel like lying at first. But soon, with a little emotion and belief, you’ll see things differently.
Daily Beloved 
Oh wow, yes, this rings so true to me. I see the mirage and drink it in. It’s okay! It’s only a mirage. I am basking in the new thoughts I can think.
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Dear Patrick, Yes and Amen. Abundant support for the new thoughts coming your way. Love, Bonnie
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I love this. ❤️
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I used to have a bumper sticker that said, “Don’t Believe Everything You Think.” It served to remind me that sometimes my thinking is just MY thinking, and certainly reflective of my own, personal, selfish, even narcissistic reality, but not necessarily of the greater and “realer” reality out there.
Another expression that comes in handy is, “Check It Before You Wreck It,” meaning check in with the “outer” reality before interacting with others and possibly damaging relationships by saying/doing things that reflect MY inner reality, but do not jive with the other person’s interpretation of events and his/her own personal experience. It’s important to remember the world does not revolve around me…except, of course, when it does (okay, that last part was a little bit of sarcastic humor).
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LOL, thanks Celenia. These saying are great. I appreciate your insight and comments. Love, Bonnie
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