WHAT DO YOU THINK? OR SHOULD I SAY HOW DO YOU THINK?

“Since you alone are responsible for your thoughts,

only you can change them. 

You will want to change them 

when you realize that each thought creates

according to its own nature.

Remember that the law works at all times and that you are always demonstrating according to the kind of thoughts you habitually entertain.

Therefore, start now to think only those thoughts 

that will bring you health and happiness.”

~ Paramahansa Yogananda

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING TODAY? HOW ARE YOU THINKING IS WHAT I SHOULD ASK. DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF BLESSED OR DO YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A MESS? REFLECT ON THIS - ESPECIALLY IF YOU BATTLE CHRONIC ILLNESS.

 IT'S EASY TO LET THE THINGS WE CANNOT CONTROL, TAKE OVER THE THINGS WE CAN-LIKE OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. I CANNOT MY LYME DISEASE, OR THE NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS FROM IT. I CAN CONTROL MY NUTRITION, DIET, EXERCISE, AND OUTLOOK ON LIFE. IT'S NOT EASY. IN FACT CONTROLLING YOUR OUTLOOK, AND LEARNING TO PRACTICE POSITIVITY ARE QUITE DIFFICULT. IT IS CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING. BUT, IF YOU COMMIT TO THIS TASK, AND BEGIN TODAY, JUST THINK OF WHERE YOU COULD BE MENTALLY IN A MONTH, 6 MONTHS, A YEAR... 

WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

START BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE - KNOWING THAT THIS LIFE COMES WITH PAIN, BOTH PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL. IT COMES WITH LOSS, DEVASTATION, ILLNESS, INJURY AND HEARTACHE... BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH HOPE AND HEALING. IF I HADN'T BEEN THROUGH SOME OF THE CRAP I HAVE EXPERIENCED, THEN THE LIFE I AM LIVING WOULD NOT FEEL LIKE A BLESSING. AND IT DOES! 

TO MANY MY LIFE WOULD FEEL LIKE A CURSE - THE AMOUNT OF DEBT I AM IN... THE BATTLE AGAINST AN ILLNESS THAT IS ENDLESS. TRYING TO TREAT THIS ILLNESS, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT INSURANCE OVER MANY YEARS... THE RELIANCE ON FAMILY FOR FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL, AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT... THE EMBARRASSMENT OF HAVING YOUR BODY BEHAVE IN WAYS YOU CAN'T CONTROL BUT USED TO BE ABLE TO - THESE ARE MY BATTLES. THEY CAUSE GREAT, AND DAILY, ANXIETY. THEY AFFECT THOSE I LOVE AND KEPT ME ENSLAVED FOR MANY YEARS. I HID AWAY FROM THE WORLD EVERY TIME I HAD A LYME FLARE UP - EVERY TIME I STARTED TWITCHING, MY JOINTS WERE SWELLING, MY INSOMNIA KICKED IN, OR MY PAIN WAS OVERWHELMING. IT HAS TAKEN OVER A YEAR FOR ME TO GET TO WHERE I AM TODAY AND I AM NOT ANYWHERE CLOSE TO BEING AT PEACE WITH MY ILLNESS. BUT I AM CLOSER THEN I WAS. I TAKE PRIDE IN MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS THUS FAR. I AM GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED ME IN ANY AND EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE GET TO WHERE I AM. I AM LEARNING TO LOVE MYSELF WITH LYME INSTEAD OF TRYING TO LIVE A LIFE IN SPITE OF IT. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Practicing-the-Presence-through-Mind-and-Meditation/209171649145514?hc_location=timeline

WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR??? 

MAKE A LIST! 

WHO ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR - MAKE A LIST! 

WHAT ARE YOU STRENGTHS - MAKE A LIST! 

SEE HOW YOU FEEL. THESE LISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE ONE IOTA OF REGRET ATTACHED TO THEM. THE WORD "SHOULD" WILL NOT APPEAR ANYWHERE ON YOUR LISTS. OKAY? 

YOUR MIND WILL HOLD ONTO THE SHOULDA, COULDA, WOULDA STUFF WITHOUT ANY HELP FROM YOUR CONSCIOUS THOUGHT. DON'T GO THERE RIGHT NOW!

HEAD TOWARDS HEALING AND HOPE.

WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES? MAKE A LIST! 

TRY TO KEEP THEM DOABLE AND REASONABLE. SAYING I HOPE TO WIN THE LOTTERY IS NOT A PART THIS ASSIGNMENT. SAYING I HOPE I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE WHATEVER THE TEST RESULTS SAY AFTER YOUR CANCER SCREENING - THAT IS A VALID HOPE. 

SO WRITE DOWN WHAT & WHO YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR. EVERYDAY THIS MONTH TAKE TIME TO LOOK AT THESE LISTS. ADD TO THEM! MAKE THEM EPIC! KEEP THEM ON YOUR WALL, IN YOUR WALLET OR ON YOUR FRIDGE- SOMEPLACE YOU ARE SURE TO SEE IT. I FIND BATHROOM MIRRORS TO BE WONDERFUL PLACES TO POST THESE LISTS, SO WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE NEGATIVITY STARING BACK AT ME THAT LIST IS THERE TO RE-GROUND ME MENTALLY! 

TAKE TIME TO TELL THOSE PEOPLE THANKS IF YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND WHY YOU FEEL THAT WAY. PUT IN ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, IN AN E-MAIL OR A GOOD OLD FASHIONED THANK YOU NOTE, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LONG: "THANK YOU FOR BEING A TRUE FRIEND" WORKS JUST FINE AS LONG AS YOU MEAN IT! PUT IT IN WRITING - AND GIVE IT TO THEM. 

https://www.facebook.com/QueenofYourOwnLife

IT'S NOT JUST A GIFT TO THEM BUT IT'S CREATING POSITIVE ENERGY FOR YOU, AND AROUND YOU. THAT WILL COME BACK TO YOU IN SPADES. 

IF YOU DO THIS THEN GUESS WHAT - YOU JUST SPENT 10 MINUTES OR AN HOUR OR A DAY FOCUSING AND THINKING ABOUT POSITIVE THINGS! YOU DID IT. NOW KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. I TRULY WISH NOTHING BUT THE BEST FOR YOU DEAR READER. REMEMBER YOU CANNOT CONTROL LIFE BUT LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO CONTROL EVERY PART OF YOU! YOU ARE STRONGER THEN YOU KNOW. TIME TO LET THAT SHOW!

IF YOU BEGIN TO GO DOWN A NEGATIVE PATH MENTALLY WHEN DOING THIS EXERCISE OF SELF LOVE AN GRATITUDE, AND YOU JUST AREN'T ABLE TO REEL IN THOSE FEARS; THOSE "SHOULDA'S", THEN WRITE THEM DOWN AND GO FOR DRIVE. TEAR UP THE PAPER AND LET IT BLOW AWAY. BURN IT IF YOU LIKE. SEAL IT IN AN ENVELOP AND SEND IT TO SANTA CLAUSE. GIVE IT TO YOUR RABBI, PRIEST, OR GURU AND ASK THEM TO HOLD ONTO IT FOR YOU. YOU WON'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH BETTER YOU FEEL WHEN YOU DUMP THAT HEAVY LOAD OR HAND IT OFF TO SOMEONE ELSE. 

AS ALWAYS I WISH YOU A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND HOPEFUL DAY MY FRIENDS. Y'ALL COME BACK NOW YOU HEAR? THANKS FOR VISITING BETWEEN HEALTH & WEALTH AVENUES & THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF MY LIFE - WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, AND WHOEVER YOU ARE - IF YOU ARE READING THIS WE ARE CONNECTED AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT!!! PEACE, AUDREY

FEEL FREE TO USE THIS TODAY AND EVERYDAY IF YOU LIKE! PEACE FRIENDS