IS IT BASEBALL SEASON OR WHAT?
Often life throws you curve balls you just can’t catch. Are we meant to catch these or let them zip on by? Obviously they were supposed to occur. Why? Because they happened. In my opinion we can get bummed out or look at what was learned from the experience. I try (the key word here is TRY) to look at the many perspectives the situation presents. I have discovered through the pain when I get another one or more person’s outlook around what I’m dealing with they can see in the circumstance what I am missing. This will help my point of reference, especially when I am emotionally vested in it.
Emotions have a way of clouding up the rivers of reason. Where does all this emotional turmoil come from? Thoughts. Plain and simple. I’ve noticed that when I catch myself sliding back into the old behaviors of self-pity or resentment it’s usually my thoughts that have created the crummy mood that I’m in. Once I catch myself however the ego has nowhere to hide. I look at the thought without judgment or criticism and amazingly emotion dwindles and becomes less explosive. Mastering emotions is a life long process. When we get stuck in judgment, blame or depression then we become PhD’s of victimhood.
I hate feeling like a victim. There are no happy feelings, there is not one pleasant feeling that surrounds being the victim.
How often do we fall into this trap without even realizing it?
Several times a day.
It is a conditioned response, a way of thinking that society has ingrained in us. Sad.
When we take things so personally, or we jump to conclusions about another’s statements or behaviors we set ourselves up to be the victim. It’s easy to do, because it’s an unconscious habit that comes so readily that we don’t even realize it until we stop and take notice of how we’re feeling.
It’s so foreign to watch our thoughts and notice where they take us - that we allow the mind (our mind) to leads us down paths of destruction and peril without being conscious that we are involved in the process of victimhood. We just go along for the pathetic ride.
Victimhood is even glorified!
Everywhere you read or hear on the news about this trouble… or that wrong done another. This injustice… or that injustice. No wonder the cycle continues over and over again! The negative attention is attention none-the-less. A no win situation. I will fall into the trap myself often enough. For instance when I had my surgery there were some serious complications. Complications none the less that I surpassed and gratefully recovered from yet; I found my ego wanting to go into the ugliness whenever someone asked me how my surgery went. These are hard habits to break. But break them we can and move into a place of peace instead of pain. It takes practice persistence and continued mindfulness of our thoughts. Be Well.
Thanks for being a part of my world. Please tell your friends and pass the love forward. ...................Blessed be. jl
