Quote by Gandhi: Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoug…

Had to remind myself of this again, because yesterday something (someone) triggered some feelings that upset me. I was angry and sad. This morning, I took some time to look at it, and recognized that it had triggered a looping of thoughts, a story that I believed and repeated in my head for years. It’s a story that is ego based and makes me small.  When I brought clear presence to it, brought kindness and compassion to myself, and clarity and love to the other people involved, the sadness and anger dissolved. The smallness disappeared. I realized, I have control over the story in my mind and I don’t need it. I don’t need anything that limits and neither do you. What stories have you developed for yourself that may not be reality? That may be ego? Drama?  

Last night a girlfriend of mine was telling me of a book she just read and how she really internalized the message that when you are faced with the end of your life, what do you most want? What’s important?  It’s inspiring her to be a better person each day. Today I heard about an exercise that Thich Nhat Hanh does where he has you turn to someone nearby and say, “You will die, I will die, but we have this moment.”  Morbid or uplifting? Maybe both, but the next time you’re in a situation where you’re feeling angry or frustrated by someone, maybe try to slow down the thoughts that race into your mind, bring presence and think about how some of those words/excercises could help bring a loving kindness to the situation, a new space, opening up new possibilities.