Ditch The Past and Dominate Your Future With This Quick Hack If You Are Tired Of Living In Your…

Summary

The author has discovered a practical method to stay present and cultivate gratitude by verbally acknowledging the positive aspects of everyday tasks, which helps break the cycle of negative thinking and fosters a positive mindset.

Abstract

The article discusses the author's struggle with persistent negative thoughts and the search for a tangible method to change them. The author found a solution in the simple act of verbalizing gratitude while performing mundane tasks, such as washing dishes. By acknowledging the blessings of having hot water, food, and a home, the author was able to shift from a negative spiral to a state of appreciation and presence. This practice is linked to the concept of gratitude, which has been scientifically proven to improve relationships and health. The author emphasizes that this method is not just about being mindful but about taking action to change one's mental state, thus opening up possibilities and reducing anxiety about the future.

Opinions

The author was dissatisfied with conventional advice on changing thoughts, finding it repetitive and lacking in practical steps.
There is a strong desire expressed by the author to move beyond mere awareness of negative thoughts to actively doing something to improve their mental state.
The author views negative thoughts as stagnant and harmful, comparing them to "muck in a putrid pond with no drainage."
The act of verbalizing gratitude is presented as a powerful tool for snapping back into the present moment and appreciating life.
The author cites Eckhart Tolle to reinforce the idea that only grievances about the past, not the past itself, can prevent one from being present.
Gratitude is seen as a practice that not only keeps the mind positive but also has scientifically proven benefits for health and relationships.
The author differentiates between appropriate and inappropriate times to practice this method of gratitude, suggesting it's not suitable for all situations like office meetings or social events.
The practice of staying present is linked to mental and physical well-being, as it reduces stress and anxiety about the future.
The author references a biblical verse (Matthew 6:34) to underscore the importance of living in the present and not worrying about tomorrow.

Ditch The Past and Dominate Your Future With This Quick Hack If You Are Tired Of Living In Your Head

I was tired of being fed the same information about changing my thoughts without any real advice on how to make that change happen.

I was itching to crawl out of the space of negativity in my mind to fix what was going on in my mind. I am mindful, aware of everything that is going on in and around me but I craved more than just thinking about thinking. In fact, the thoughts became stagnant, like muck in a putrid pond with no drainage, and they were starting to stink. What was I missing? I wanted something I could do to make things happen. I wanted to drain the swamp.

One day, my thoughts started to drift to a place that I did not like to visit. It was while I was standing at the sink, rubbing a dishcloth over a plate and I stopped and I started verbalizing, out loud, what I was doing.

“I have hot running water and I am washing dishes after eating a good meal. I am blessed to have food to eat, a home to eat in, and all the equipment I need to take care of my home.”

Wow! Just like that, I flipped the switch. I went from being dragged into the negative and catapulted into the present and appreciating life. Woo Hoo! I just found an awesome way to snap back into the present. This was my ah-ha moment. Succumbing to reliving the past and worrying about the future made me feel stuck. It’s easy to fall into the negative trap of the past or fear the unknowns of the future and this was a powerful new tool that helped me to stay in the present moment.

“The past has no power to stop you from being present now. Only your grievance about the past can do that.” -Eckhart Tolle

This practice keeps me in a state of gratitude. This practice steers my thoughts to other things that I have to be grateful for and keeps the wheels spinning in a positive direction. The energy and motion veer off into positivity and positivity breeds possibilities, creates options and open closed doors.

The practice of gratitude comes with a plethora of benefits. Psychology Today reports studies have shown that gratitude improves relationships and health.

Of course, this is a practice that is helpful during those moments such as showering, lounging around the home, or anytime my mind starts to wander. I’m not going to use it while bored at an office meeting or at a bad cocktail party.

“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.” — Abraham Maslow

Staying in the present dissipates the fear about the future. Not worrying and eliminating stress keeps me healthy mentally and physically.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34