Are Your Thoughts Causing You Pain?

It’s been at least a week since my last post. I’ve experienced a few challenges and had to take some time to ‘pull it together’. I’ve had two deaths in my family within one week. And now my grandfather is ill. So, needless to say, I’m a bit emotional. When I find myself feeling this way, I like to become quiet, meditate a little and pray alot. Not requesting prayers, instead I pray prayers of gratitude. I thank God, Life, Universe for allowing me to see that everything I have experienced, everything I am experiencing and everything I will experience are all for my higher good.

I carry a book with me almost everywhere I go. Just in case I get some down time, I’ll have something to read. On this visit home, I chose a book written by Byron Katie entitled ‘Question Your Thinking Change The World”. The book contains various quotes from Byron Katie. Byron is the creator of a simple yet profound exercise called The Work. In this exercise, you are to ask yourself 4 simple questions and then turn them around. The questions are:

1. Are my thoughts true?

2. Can I know for sure my thoughts are true?

3. How do I feel/react when I think my thoughts are true?

4. Who would I be if I could not/did not think those thoughts?

Again, the questions seem simple; however, if you actually do The Work, you will find the exercise quite profound. If you would like to read more about The Work, please visit her site here.

Another book written by Byron is “Loving What Is’. This book has been my ‘mind saver’ on many occasions. This is one of those times. I find that most, if not all of my inner turmoil comes from thinking that things should be different. For example, if I think that my relatives should not leave this physical plane and they do, I hurt. If I think that my grandfather should not become ill and he does, I hurt. However, when I accept my relatives death as ‘what is’ and my grandfather’s illness as ‘what is’, then I see there are no should or shouldn’ts. There is only what is and what is not.

Now don’t get me wrong. That is not to say that I don’t feel pain when a relative dies or that I am not concerned when my grandfather becomes ill. Just that I accept it for what it is. I feel all the emotions attached to those thoughts. I grieve and then I let go. Sometimes the letting go takes a little longer for some things. Yet I know that to hold on to them would only be detrimental to me and all those around me. If I allow my thoughts to control me then they win. When I question my thoughts and accept the ‘real’ answers, then I win. And I play to win.

Question your thoughts…..question everything.

J-licious