If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place. – Lao Tzu
Our minds can be our worst enemies. As I indicated in the video, I’ve suffered from anxiety and bad ruminating thoughts most of my life. I had no idea I had the power to correct course until I was in my early 30s. This week our Get Real challenge is to focus on our awareness and our thoughts. If you’re like me and they tend to run 
away from you, realize you can rein them back in.
A few of my favorite books that have helped me with the present moment and redirecting my thoughts away from the negative:
Listening Below the Noise by Anne D. LeClaire
Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart by Gordon Livingston, MD
A New Earth: Awakening to your life’s purpose by Eckhart Tolle
Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much by Anne Wilson Schaef
What are some things we can do as we journal and keep track of our thinking this week?
-Notice how you react to situations, good and bad and how you let that effect your mood
-Trying to wake up and go to bed with gratitude and joy no matter what’s happened during the day
-Not labeling a meeting, situation or day as “good” or “bad” only that it is what it is and bring ourselves fully to every interaction
– Breathe deeply and redirect our thinking if we notice we are having ruminating thoughts
If you find that the thinking is truly effecting our life in negative ways, ask for help from a loved one to seek mental health advice from a therapist or psychologist. Depression, severe anxiety and other mental disorders could be greatly helped by professional support so don’t be afraid to ask! Your life is worth it.
Do you have tips for keeping your thoughts in check? If so, leave them in comments and thanks for being a part of my Get Real year.
xo
readyaimgrow.com 
What a positive framework for the week, Thanks!
Thanks, Lucie! I have to work on it every day. 🙂
I had to learn to talk to myself like I would a friend, “Everything’s okay, nothing bad is going to happen to you today. You are doing everything you want to be doing and you are doing the best you can.”
I will order the reference books. I have a terrible time with positive attitude. My husband has heart trouble (15 stints), diabetes, high blood pressure and can’t walk. He is a very negative person and has been for years. He is losing his memory and asks the same thing many times a day. If I don’t watch very close I get negative about all the wonderful things God has given me. At times it takes weeks to get over the foul mood and remember how good I do have it. I have been writing for a long time and though I would be writing full time when I retired but I’m having a difficult time keeping a smile. Thank you for the article it brings attention to what I am letting happen to me and remember I can stop it.
Thanks agaiin
Sorry for the delay in seeing this and replying! Good luck to you on your journey. Wishing you the very best.
zi ordered the books and they are great. I am knee deep in sheets of a ms I haven’t touched in years and will be attending a conference this week for 4 days. I even added a day to my schedule to check in and have the evening and night to me!
Thanks for covering just what I needed when I needed it.