Oh, The Drama!

I was just reading an article in Body & Soul Magazine about letting go of pessimistic thinking. Life coach Cheryl Richardson wrote about how easy it is for all of us to slip into negative thoughts, particularly when faced with a challenge, no matter how big or small it is, letting our minds turn them from small unknowns into worst-case scenarios. We’ve all been there right?

I’ve thought about this often and have started to call this “the drama of the ego.”  Just by paying attention to it, I’ve noticed how my mind (or ego) is addicted to creating drama - even when there is absolutely no sense of reality to base it on. I like to think of my ego-mind as a bored child, constantly drumming up little scenes or plays to stay entertained. More than once as I let some topic build in my mind, I’ve been able to stop and just laugh at the latest story my ego-mind has concocted. The problem is, when we’re not aware of this distinction and allow ourselves to get thoroughly absorbed in the stories, they can cause unnecessary stress and have a very real impact on our lives, health and general well-being. Whether you subscribe to Tolle’s philosophy of “being present” or not (A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose), I think we can all benefit from paying a little more attention to where our daily thoughts take us. And when you sense a “drama” coming on, figure out a way to let it go.  Easier said than done?  Well, yes, but practice makes perfect and the more you do it, the easier it gets and the better you feel. Give it a try.