Did you know that many of your thought patterns and behaviors are automatic?
You’ve been practicing them for so long that they just repeat themselves.
Good, bad or indifferent, your brain carves pathways for the thoughts and patterns that are common for you.
And the more you think those thoughts, the deeper the path becomes.
If you’ve practiced a lifetime of worrying, chances are you are a GOOD worrier! And, the more you worry, the deeper that neural pathway becomes.
The worry path becomes your go-to, and changing it requires that you forge a new path.
When you begin walking this new path, i.e. practicing new thought patterns, you soon realize that it isn’t a path at all.
In fact, it may feel strange, difficult to navigate, and easy to lose your way.
But have faith and keep the course! Once you’ve practiced walking a new path, it becomes familiar.
The more you travel it, the easier the journey. The new path becomes your new go-to.
That’s just how the brain works.
New behaviors are hard, because the brain hasn’t carved the path yet. But, it will.
In the mindfulness world, we have a formal practice called Loving-Kindness meditation.
Part of that guided practice has these phrases — first directed to self, then to others:
May I be happy.
May I be healthy.
May I be safe and secure.
May I be at peace.
Want to give your brain a chance to carve a new, empowering pathway?
I’m inviting you to use these four phrases for a week or so — as many times a day as you wish.
Said silently, or out loud, day or night, these phrases invite positive outcomes, perhaps especially when things feel a bit challenged for you.
A full, formal guided Loving-Kindness meditation practice is available on the practice page of my Mind Your Moments site: mindyourmoments.com/practice/
In closing, here’s a lovely expanded version of metta (loving-kindness) below.
This is wonderful and I have started forging my new path!
Thank you Cassie !!!! I did this one this morning. Your voice resonates with me and I find it easy to follow along with very little distraction. Well, not much distraction , anyway. It's getting easier to stay present.
Love, Stacy O.