"There's nothing either good or bad but thinking
makes it so."
- William Shakespeare
The title of this great Cole Porter song - Night and
Day - also describes the sometimes changeable
nature of my outlook on life.
Example: It is late evening, and I'm thinking about all
I have to accomplish in the week ahead - book
publishing details, workshop preparation, handouts to
finish, that audiotape script I want to write, a call to
my sister, plane reservations to Chicago, and so on,
not to mention the minutiae of phone calls, email,
internet searches, and follow up associated with
each project. I feel overwhelmed, tired,
self-absorbed, and incapacitated.
Next morning: I awake before dawn and do some
deep breathing. I meditate, watch the sun rise, and
eagerly anticipate the day. Today, I will learn the
ship date for my book, have the opportunity to
create a new piece of writing, plan a workshop, and
maybe take a walk and enjoy some fresh air.
The same circumstances that seemed daunting,
scary, and impossible to manage the night before
appear filled with potential this morning. I am
doomed - I am lucky. I'll get sick - I feel great! I will
certainly fail - My day is filled with promise.
My husband Jim and I call these "Night and Day"
viewpoints the Good Reality and the Bad Reality. I
would rather be in the Good Reality - positive,
pleasant, and full of possibility. The sun is shining,
birds singing, and life is easy, flowing and fun.
Problems exist, but I can handle them. My energy is
strong and resilient.
But sometimes I drop into the Bad Reality, where life
is difficult, depressing, and stressful. I feel weighed
down, inadequate, and powerless. I can't find my
energy or my spirit.
Is it a choice? I think it is. Something
is happening out there, and my viewing lens changes
my experience. My thinking makes it so.
Sometimes I can get there on my own steam. I just
change my mind, or laugh at myself, or both. When
I'm too tired to find the road back, I rest or take
myself out for a cup of tea. When I am kind to
myself, the Good Reality always returns.
And so I experiment with the Reality channel and how
the external world changes with my viewing lens.
Shall I live in the Good or Bad Reality today? How
about you? Which one are you in now? Can you cross
over?
I would love to hear from you on these questions.
The capacity to believe that by changing my thinking
I can change my reality is a gift. I know this. Partly,
my life is about sharing this gift.
I hope you're in the Good Reality today.
Happy Spring!
Email Judy
about your experiences with channel changing.
