Negative thought patterns deplete life energy, which is different from physical energy.  Have you ever noticed how food does not replenish or revitalize life energy?  Life energy requires a different kind of sustenance that is not physical in form.  This sustenance is non-tangible and can only be accessed when we free ourselves from energy blocks.

To free yourself, mindfully embrace the bigger picture in life and be open to seeing what you cannot see.  For every negative thought pattern, there is also a positive.  This is the wisdom of yin yang where opposing energies are present in everything.  Dissolve negative energies by staying open to the myriad of possibilities that exists in any given moment!

The voice within contributes to our perceptions in life. Each persons’ lens of perception is unique.  No two people are alike since it is based on personal experiences and stored memories.  For example, if a group of people are observing an old tree and a strange sound ripples through the air, some may become startled triggering a wild chain of fear-based thoughts while others remain calm with only sporadic thoughts of wonder and curiosity.  This filtering process affects our energy level within.  When we are open to experiences in life, our energy expands.  Conversely, when we are closed, our energy diminishes.

Extended periods or repeated experiences of diminishing energy risks depression.  Bring awareness to when energy blocks happen.  They are merely indicators that you need to practice self-care.  Shift your focus to love and respect for yourself.  Honour all of your experiences and your potential to thrive through life!

Have you ever stopped to listen to the stream of chatter within?  Perhaps you might catch yourself saying things like “What’s going on here?  This is really bad …. I need to get out of here.” or “I’m hungry.  I’m dying of thirst.  Where’s my water bottle?  I want my water bottle right now!!”

Thoughts are energy and this energy can be expressed in numerous ways.  They can be expressed through sound, like a sigh or a groan.  They can also be expressed in behaviours or words that spill out of our mouths.  This brings intangible thoughts to the tangible world.  If someone hears our  groan or words or sees our actions and responds to them, there is a continued ripple effect of the energy in the outer world.

Bring awareness to the energy of your thoughts.  If thoughts are positive and uplifting, they will likely bring more positive energy to your external environment.  If thoughts are negative, they may drain you and make you feel depleted.  Elevate your awareness of depleting sources of energy.  Mindfully shift from negative to positive thoughts, one moment at a time.

Mindfully rejuvenate and refresh yourself in the moment!  When difficult emotions arise, acknowledge and accept your feelings without conditions.  Embrace kindness and compassion while letting go of resistance or judgement.

Remember there is no right way to feel in life.  What you feel is your truth and let it be.  Allow the emotion to pass through with gentle love and respect.  Commit to nurturing yourself and when you do this, you will discover that your natural state of joy and aliveness will return in a very timely way!

Time is perceived as linear in the physical world.  Minutes give way to hours, hours lead to days which lead to weeks, months, and years.  Through practicing mindfulness and meditation, the perception of time shifts.  You come to see time as non-linear, like a spiral where past, present and future are all present at the same time.

To give you an example, think of a tree that starts out as a tiny shoot emerging from the ground.  This shoot grows more shoots that eventually become branches and limbs.  The original shoot grows into a trunk that continually regenerates new shoots and foliage throughout its life.  Looking at the tree, you see past, present and future all in one.  You may adopt this perspective for yourself, knowing that it is never too late to regenerate or revive yourself in life!

How often do you find yourself saying “I don’t have enough time.” or “I can’t believe how fast time flies!”  Perhaps you might also say “Why is this taking so long?”  If you find yourself saying some or all of these frequently, you are not alone.  Our sensitivity of time has heightened due to the digital age.

To release any struggles with time, ground yourself in the present moment and open yourself to the reality of the present moment.  Time is a perception.  You cannot touch it or hold on to it.  An hour can feel like a minute or a minute can feels like hours.  Allow yourself to relax in this awareness and embrace the fact that balance and inner peace exists outside of time.  All you need to do is simply flow with life.

There are times when it is important to leave the present moment.  You may choose to spend time dreaming, visualizing or planning your future.  You may also want to revisit the past to heal old wounds.  Be aware of  spending too much time away from the present moment though since it is all too easy to get lost in obsessive thinking and details.  Set a time limit and mindfully bring yourself back to the present moment.  You will delightfully discover that amount of time you spend dreaming and reflecting can be just as nourishing as living fully in the moment!

Take a leap to the right hemisphere of your brain and engage your imagination to include a world of possibilities.  Stretch your patterns of thinking to include win-win outcomes including highest good for all, yourself included.  It is quite easy to develop this habit when practicing mindfulness.  Simply shift old habits of linear thinking and rationalizing in the moment.

For instance, if your back aches from regular physical exercise, you may automatically conclude this is a normal experience of aging.  Employing your imagination, you do not accept this sweeping conclusion and consider alternate ways of dealing with the situation.  Perhaps you come to realize that a shift in body posture and techniques are all that is needed to rid physical discomfort.  Magically, the mental discomfort dissolves as well!

The myriad of thoughts that inhabit the human mind can boggle the human mind!  Where do all of these thoughts come from?  Generally, they are triggered by events and it is how you interpret these events that makes all the difference.  To give you a couple of examples, if you see a dozen ants marching through your home, you may instantly think war or you may stop yourself and consider alternative solutions.  If you stub your toe while walking barefoot, you may automatically fall into self-incriminating thoughts or mindfully choose kindness and compassion for yourself in the moment.  Let go of battle and allow yourself to flow gracefully through life.  Direct ants and automatic criticisms directly out the back door!

What’s on your mind today?  Are your thoughts positive, negative or neutral?  Do they take you to a place of peace and calmness, or worry and stress?

Bring awareness to the quality of your thoughts this week.  If they do not serve you well, let them go.  For instance, worries about the future can be debilitating and even paralyzing.  Ground yourself in the truth of the moment and release negative energy with each outbreath.  Mindfully shift your thought patterns towards healthier, supportive thoughts that honor the best in you and the scope of human experiences.