The secret The secret to living a life of connection and joy is to keep your mind clear and clean of garbage. What is garbage you ask? It is criticism, guilt, shame, worry, gossip – all things negative. How does one do that you ask? By monitoring your thoughts. A thought is a wave of energy that flows through your mind. Most of them have been triggered by the news, television, your conversations and interactions through the day and programming from family, teachers, and various groups. Sounds like a lot – well, maybe. The point is that a thought is an energy impulse that you can listen to and respond to or not. Observe your thoughts without reacting to them. You will begin to notice the trend and patterns. Are you a worry wart – you are living in the future. Are you guilt ridden, you are livingin the past. Do you run conversations over and over in your mind, you are creating anxiety and second guessing. Now, the good part. When you notice a negative thought, step back from it. Do not engage. It is just an energy impulse, let it flow by. The reason people get into trouble is that they take their thoughts seriously and act on compulsions and impulses without considering their source or consequences. To an alcoholic, I want a drink. Observe it and let it go. Same with drug addicts, sex addicts, shopping addicts, any addict. Essentially we are all addict in some way. Notice what your addiction is. Maybe it is the need for attention, or wanting others to approve of you. Again, notice these thoughts as they arise and let them go. Now that is hard if you don’t replace the space the thought takes up with something else. So I suggest you be ready with a new thought – no that will clear space and create openness. That would be gratitude. Thank yourself for noticing the thought and letting it go. Be grateful for a beautiful day or for sunshine. Be grateful for having legs to walk and speech to share ideas. There are a million things to be grateful for. Why do we want this? Because gratitude lifts your mind. Endeavor for clear space when you are allowing the light of the Universe to shine through your mind. Practice being quiet. Even with yourself. When more thoughts arise – shhhh! I am quiet now. This is all about self discipline -- to take control of YOUR mind. Like driving a car, you get to decide where your vehicle is headed and with thinking, you decide what thoughts are allowed and which ones are not. Where do you want to take your mind. You can drive it DOWN in negativity, which will create restriction, upset, and chaos. Or you can navigate it UP to uplifting thoughts and possibilities. Just keeping it clear of negativity is transformative. So the exercise is: observe your thoughts. Let them flow. Then disengage from the uninspiring one and go to peace. Equating a beautiful image to peace – like a serene forest or park, the ocean, sitting on the porch on a sunny day, watching the sun rise or set – will help. Have it ready so you can go there. Gratitude always ascends the energy of the mind. Forgiveness does too.